Hanoi (VNA) – Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chiefof Myanmar Defence Services, is on an official visit to Vietnam from December18-22 at the invitation of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army.

His visit aims to enhance the traditional friendship, better mutualunderstanding and trust between the two countries and armies, and seek measuresto boost cooperation in the time ahead. This is the third trip to Vietnam byMin Aung Hlaing in his position as the Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar DefenceServices.

On December 19, Min Aung Hlaing had a meeting with Defence Minister General NgoXuan Lich during which he affirmed to do his utmost to promote traditionalrelations between the two countries and armies for the sake of the two peoples.

Minister Lich spoke highly of the outcomes of the talks between Senior GeneralMin Aung Hlaing and Sen. Lt. Gen. PhanVan Giang, Chief of General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and DeputyMinister of Defence, saying that Vietnam and Myanmar have effectively carriedout multilateral and bilateral agreements, and expanded cooperation in thefields of training, communications, military medicine, and exchange of youngofficers.

He described the Telecom International Myanmar, a joint venture between theViettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group, Myanmar military and severalpartners, as a highlight in the cooperative ties.

Minister Lich expressed his hope Myanmar will support and share experience withVietnam when the country plays the role as the ASEAN Chair 2020.

Earlier, Sen. Lt. Gen. Phan Van Giang hosted a welcome ceremony for, and heldtalks with Min Aung Hlaing, during which he said the latter’s visit will contributeto developing traditional friendship between the two armies and the twocountries as a whole into a more result-oriented and effective manner.

Both countries have enjoyed a sound friendship, which has been treasured bygenerations of leaders and peoples, Giang said, underlining Vietnam alwaysattaches importance to deepening the ties with Myanmar for benefits of bothpeoples as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development of theASEAN Community and the world.

Giang and his Myanmar guest said that the military cooperation has beenunceasingly developed, with positive results seen in delegation exchanges,language training and medical medicine.

In the coming time, both sides will continue carrying out their cooperativeagreements, promoting the efficiency of the joint working group, as well asaccelerating the organisation of the first defence policy dialogue.

Regarding multilateral cooperation, they agreed to support each other atmultilateral forums and issues of mutual interest, particularly at regionaldefence-military cooperative mechanisms such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plus./.