Vietnam, Sri Lanka strengthen defence co-operation

^{Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang receives Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. (Courtesy: NhanDan Online)} 

The Defence Ministries of Vietnam and Sri Lanka will strengthen co-operation through exchanging high-ranking delegations, language training and sharing experience in army building, mine and bomb clearance and the defence industry.

The two ministries reached the agreement during the talks between Deputy Minister of National Defence Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh and visiting Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in Hanoi on September 5.

During their talks, the two sides decided to entrust authorised agencies to study co-operative contents towards the signing of a memorandum of understanding on bilateral defence co-operation, helping to consolidate the friendship between the two armies and the two countries.

Deputy Minister Vinh thanked the Sri Lankan people for their wholehearted support for Vietnam in the struggle for national independence in the past as well as during the current national development.

He expressed his belief that the visit would open up new prospects for bilateral defence co-operation, helping boost the friendship and co-operation between the two armies and two peoples, reports NhanDan Online.