HCMC - Vietnam and China reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering defense ties during a meeting on December 19 between Vietnam's Party General Secretary To Lam and Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun.

The meeting in Hanoi took place on the sidelines of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the All-People Defense Festival. Lam emphasized the importance of defense cooperation as a core pillar of Vietnam-China relations and called for the effective implementation of existing mechanisms while urging both countries to explore new areas of collaboration, particularly in political education, officer training, and border security. Lam conveyed his greetings to Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and president of China, and commended China’s achievements over the past decades. He emphasized the importance of maintaining high-level exchanges and addressing maritime issues through dialogue and adherence to international law. Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun affirmed China’s respect for its traditional friendship with Vietnam. He conveyed Xi Jinping’s congratulations to Vietnam on its military achievements and its efforts to maintain regional stability. Dong reiterated China’s willingness to deepen comprehensive military collaboration with Vietnam, proposing expanded cooperation in areas such as education, border management, and conflict resolution.