2010-08-25 17:07

BEIJING - A senior Vietnamese defense official said here Wednesday Vietnam welcomes China's military development and its presence at the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers' meeting.

"As friendly neighbors, Vietnam takes pleasure in China's development, particularly its military development, which neither poses a threat to other countries nor jeopardizes regional peace and stability," said Vietnamese Vice Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh.

The Chinese military can contribute to disaster relief efforts in the region, he told reporters.

Vinh is in Beijing for consultations with Chinese defense ministry officials ahead of the first ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, in October.

He met with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and held talks with Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The expanded ASEAN meeting will gather defense ministers from ASEAN member countries and eight dialogue partners, including Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the United States, as well as representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat.

As the holder of the rotating presidency of ASEAN, Vietnam invited Liang to attend the meeting.

"This will be important to the success of the meeting and promote bilateral cooperation," Vinh said, adding that China can share with ASEAN countries its rich experience in addressing non-traditional security threats.

China and Vietnam maintained frequent defense exchanges in the first half of the year.

Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh led a delegation to China in April and Vinh is now in China for his second visit.

Good communication between the two militaries builds mutual trust, he said.

China and Vietnam are now preparing for the fourth bilateral strategic defense dialogue to be held later in the year, he added.