China and Vietnam are set to conduct their first joint army training exercise, according to the Chinese defence ministry.
In a statement posted on its website on Sunday, the ministry announced that the joint exercise would be held this month in southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, which borders Vietnam.
“This is the first joint army drill between China and Vietnam, with the theme of ‘joint border patrol training’,” the Chinese Ministry of Defence statement said.
The exercise would “further deepen practical cooperation between the two militaries”, it added.
On the economic front, China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner and a critical supplier for its manufacturing sector. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Vietnam in April, days after the escalation of the US tariff war, where he called on the Asian neighbours to cooperate to “fight unilateral bullying”.
Closer defence cooperation this year – which marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties – has included the Chinese military’s first-ever appearance at Vietnam’s annual celebration of the fall of Saigon.
