NAYPYI TAW September 25
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing gave a guard-of-honour welcome to Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army,in front of Zeyathiri Beikman here this morning.
First, the Senior General and the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army took salute of the Guard of Honour and inspected it. Then, they took salute of the Guard of Honour in march past and made bilateral introductions of senior military officers from the two countries.
Present at the welcoming ceremony together with the Senior General were Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Chief of the General Staff(Army, Navy and Air) General Mya Tun Oo, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Admiral Tin Aung San, Commander-in-Chief(Air) General Maung Maung Kyaw,senior military officers from the Office ofthe Commander-in-Chief (Army) and Myanmar Military Attaché (Army, Navy andAir) Brig-Gen Aung Zeya. The Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army was accompanied by Vietnamese Ambassador to Myanmar Mrs. Dr. Luan Thuy Duong,Vietnamese Military Attaché to Myanmar Colonel Nguyen Due Giang and senior military officers from the Vietnam People’s Army.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army gave his signature in the visitors’ book of Zeyathiri Beikman. Then, the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and the Senior General held talks at the parlour.
The Senior General said it was a significant visit of the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army to Myanmar for the first time since he started serving in that post. Having friendly relations,the two countries have had historical ties, and the existing friendship will be strengthened, he said.
The Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army expressed thanks to the Senior General for inviting him to come to Myanmar on a goodwill visit.It was his first goodwill visit to Myanmar. The two countries have friendly and amicable relations. The bilateral cooperation and relations have existed since ancient times and they will be further cemented.Cooperation is also necessary in economy, investment, training and other areas. Vietnam has to take alternate chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020, so efforts will be made for the success of its duty, he added.
The Senior General and the Chief of General Staff of Vietnam People’s Army frankly exchanged wide views on MyanmaTatmadaw’s effort to cooperate with Vietnam when it takes in charge of ASEAN chairmanship in 2020, Vietnam People’sAnny’s measures to render assistance in political, economic and social fields besides defending the State for the interest of the people since the time of Ho Chi Minh, leader of Vietnam People’s Army, duties discharged by every Tatmadaw in every country to safeguard sovereignty and territory and life and property ofthe people,international interference in the regionally negotiable conflicts that can disrupt regional stability and development, measures to strengthen military cooperation among armed forces of ASEAN members for ensuring stability,peace and development of ASEAN region, efforts to boost relations among ASEAN members, Myanmar’s step to comply with the stance of ASEAN in Southeast Asia and international relation sector including South China issue,prospects to enhance economy,trade and tourism between the two countries, goodwill visit exchanges between two armed forces of the two countries, training and paramedical cooperation, mutual cooperation in technology, culture, sports and other areas, cooperation in prevention and fight against narcotic drugs,the duty of all countries and peace measures.
Next, the Senior General and the Chief of General Staff of Vietnam exchanged gifts and had a group photo taken together with those present. The current goodwill visit of Chief of General Staff of Vietnam People’s Army Senior Lieutenant General Phan Van Giang to Myanmar will be advantageous not only to cooperation and relations between Myanmar and Vietnam but also all areas.
