Hanoi (VNA) - Defence Minister NgoXuan Lich’s upcoming attendance ofthe 7th Moscow Conference on International Security in Russia on April4-5 aims to affirm Vietnam’s responsibility towards global and regional matters,a Vietnamese officer has said.

Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang, Director of the ForeignRelations Department under the Ministry of Defence, made the statement in arecent interview with Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) newspaper.

The event will take place in the context that Vietnam and Russia are witnessingthe flourishing development of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and bilateraldefence relations, Thang noted.

Vietnam’s viewpoints onsecurity and development issues will be expressed at the event, he said.

On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Lich will meet with his Russiancounterpart Sergei Shoigu, during which the two sides will discuss ways to strengthendefence cooperation between the two countries, towards reinforcing thefriendship between the two armies, Thang stressed.

He also highlighted the importance of the Moscow Conference on International Security, saying it contributesto maintaining and promoting peace, stability and security in Asia Pacific andthe world.

Launched by the Russian Ministry of Defence in 2012, the annual event providesa forum for senior defence officers, military experts from many countries and representativesfrom international organisations to debate global security issues that impactpeace and stability, thus proposing solutions to these issues.

Russia’s invitation to Vietnam to attend the event shows Russia’s appreciation forVietnam’s role and position in the world, Thang stressed.

Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich’s speechthemed “Security challenges and possibilities of international defence cooperation in Asia Pacific” delivered at the 5th conference in 2016, was highlyappreciated.

Lich will also make an important speech in this year’s event, which will highlightemerging challenges and security threats in Asia Pacific, and the need to enhancemultilateral cooperation to deal with those challenges, Thang revealed.

Regarding Vietnam-Russia defence cooperation, Thang said the two sides agreedto boost the sharing of viewpoints on defence and security-related issues oftheir common concern, and beef up military technical cooperation during thevisit to Vietnam made by Minister ofDefence of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu in January 2018.

Bilateral defence cooperation will be expanded, focusing onpromoting exchange of all-level visits, naval training, UN peacekeepingactivities, the sharing of experience in military law, military medicine and cultureand sport exchange, he stressed.

“We believe that the defence partnership between Vietnam and Russia on thebasis of political trust, will be constantly strengthened in the time ahead,for the sake of the people of each country, and for peace and stability worldwideand in the region,” Thang said .-VNA