12/06/2013
A high-ranking Vietnamese military official told local media during a visit to China that Vietnam does not intend to become involved in any wars and would support both Chinese and US policies in the region if they are beneficial to all countries involved.
Lieutenant General and Deputy Minister of Defense Nguyen Chi Vinh held a press conference with major Chinese newspapers on Friday (June 7th) as requested, following a two-day dialogue with his subordinates and Chinese counterparts.
He said as a small country, Vietnam is aware that it should be a friend or partner rather than an enemy to anyone.
“Vietnam has no plans to play a third country off against China,” he said, replying to a question from a Global Times reporter.
“For more than 20 years since our reforms (in 1986), Vietnam has made no international relations at the expense of a third country.”
He emphasized further that China is “a top priority” in Vietnam’s diplomatic agenda.
He said that despite recent conflicts between the two nations, including physical ones like attacks launched against Vietnamese fishing vessels and Chinese forces in the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea, the countries’ leaders still need to sit down for bilateral talks as “that is the only way to solve disagreements and conflicts, for the sake of each other’s interests.”
Read more at Thanhnien News
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