Stronger defence ties foster regional cooperation

Bangkok (VNA) - A strengthening of national defence and security cooperation
between Vietnam and its neighbours will have the knock-on effect of boosting
their links in areas such as the economy, trade, investment and tourism, said a
senior military officer.

Vietnam 's Minister of Defence, General Phung Quang Thanh, made this statement
during a meeting with Vietnamese reporters in Bangkok prior to the third ASEAN
Defence Ministers' Meeting in Pattaya , Thailand , from Feb. 25-27.

Gen. Thanh said that his ministry and other relevant Vietnamese agencies have spared
no effort to transform Vietnam 's land and sea borders with its neighbours into
peaceful areas, and has provided Laos and Cambodia with assistance in
personnel training for this sphere.

Vietnam and Thailand have already completed the demarcation of their sea
borders and have so far conducted 18 joint sea patrols, thus maintaining security
in the region's waters and facilitating the operations of fishermen from both
countries, the minister said.

He added that, although Vietnam and Thailand have yet to sign a protocol, the
two nations will discuss a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation and
perform an exchange of visits and military personnel.

Thailand has sent a number of military students to Vietnam to learn
Vietnamese, and in return, a number of Vietnamese military trainees were given the
opportunity to study the Thai language to increase the efficiency of their joint
sea patrols.

In the near future, Vietnam plans to conduct joint patrols with other member
countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Gen. Thanh said.

Regarding the third ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting, Gen. Thanh revealed that
Vietnam plans to table a motion for a discussion on violations by fishermen on
their contiguous territorial waters .-Enditem