General Ngo Xuan Lich - Politburo member, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Defence Minister on November 23 hosted a reception for Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army Bipin Rawat, who is on a working visit to Vietnam.
The Vietnamese minister said he believes the visit will contribute to fostering the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and India in general and the bilateral adefence cooperation in particular, for the benefits of their people and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
He suggested agencies of the Vietnamese and Indian Defence Ministries boost existing cooperation mechanisms such as the deputy ministerial level defence policy dialogue, bilateral defence working group meeting and consultation between officers of naval, land and air forces.
Lich underlined the need for the two sides to promote coordination in personnel training, defence industry, strategic research, and joining UN peacekeeping operations.
Earlier, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) Sen. Lieut. Gen Pham Hong Huong held talks with Gen. Bipin Rawat, during which they reviewed the defence cooperation between the two countries over the past time and proposed collaboration areas in the time to come.
During his stay, Bipin Rawat laid a wreath at the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, offered incense to commemorate late General Vo Nguyen Giap at his home, and visit a number of VPA units.
