Minister of Defence General Phung Quang Thanh met separately with Chinese Minister of Defence Senior Lieutenant General Liang Guanglie on June 3 on the sidelines of the 10th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asian Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.
General Thanh spoke highly of Vietnam-China relations, which are developing well, and said that the Party, State, army and people of Vietnam attached great importance to the relationship of solidarity, friendship and comprehensive co-operation with China, adding that the dispute over sovereignty in the East Sea, however, remained an issue.
In the spirit of neighbourliness, solidarity and friendship, he highlighted the fact that Chinese marine surveillance vessels had cut the cables of the seismic survey ship Binh Minh 02 on May 26 while it was operating deep within Vietnam\'s exclusive economic zone.
He also asked that the two sides adhere to the previous commitments made by the leaders of the two countries, actively co-operate with each other and practise the utmost restraint in order to prevent similar incidents which, he said, might affect bilateral relations.
Chinese Minister of Defence, Liang Guanglie, agreed with his Vietnamese counterpart’s assessment of the Vietnam-China relationship and also held that the remaining problem between the two countries was the sovereignty dispute in the East Sea. He said China’s viewpoint on the dispute was that it must be settled through diplomatic dialogue. He opposed unilateral acts, adding that China was committed to maintaining peace and stability on the East Sea and fully complying with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.
General Liang shared General Thanh’s view that the two sides must abide by international laws, including the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea and other regulations. The Chinese general also made clear that the China Liberation Army were not involved in the recent Binh Minh 02 incident.
General Phung Quang Thanh proposed that both countries\' armies should practise the utmost restraint so as to prevent clashes, and follow the commitments made by the leaders of the two countries.
The same day, General Thanh also met New Zealand\'s Minister of Defence, Wayne Mapp, and Mongolia\'s Minister of Defence, Luvsanvandan Bold.
Source: Nhan Dan