He also praised Vietnam’s successful organisation of the first expanded ADMM and the establishment of the ADMM-Plus mechanism.
Defence Minister Thanh said that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing the good neighbourliness and long-standing relations with China, adding that the strengthening of cooperation, solidarity and mutual trust and understanding between the two countries is an important factor to maintain peace and stability in the region.
Vietnam and China have existing issues at sea left over from history, and suggested the two sides strictly obey agreements and common perception made by their senior leaders, Thanh said.
The two countries should work together to solve disputes at sea though peaceful negotiations and based on international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), as well as to boost the establishment of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASE AN and China, he added.
In terms of defence cooperation, he noted that the two sides need to continue speeding up defence dialogue strategy, boost contacts, exchanges and consultations at all levels to intensify mutual trust and understanding, and early set up hot lines between the two sides at Defence Ministry, Military Zone and Border Guard Force levels.
