Corps and armies

Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, who is also Head of the MND’s Steering Committee on Vietnam’s Participation in U.N. Peacekeeping Operations, chaired the event. According to the decision, Major Nguyen Van Phong, assistant at the Division of Political Affairs of Brigade 229 under the Engineering Corps, will work as a military observer at the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Assigning tasks to the officer, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien asked him to promote the spirit of pro-activeness, self-reliance, overcoming difficulties, being flexible and creative; promptly integrate into the international environment and demonstrate his capability while observing military discipline, U.N. regulations and the host country’s laws, and others. According to Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VNDPKO), Major Phong participated in various … [Read more...] about One more Vietnamese officer taking on peacekeeping duties

Phnom Penh (VNA) - The joint military drill, dubbed “Golden Dragon”, between the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) kicked off in the Cambodia n province of Kampong Chhnang on March 23. The drill, which lasts from March 20 to April 8, attracts the participation of nearly 900 Cambodian and Chinese troops. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states have been invited to observe the exercise, the fifth of its kind. The " Golden Dragon ” military exercise, which began in 2016, aims to exchange experience and enhance the capacity of the RCAF and PLA in humanitarian operations, disaster rescue and counter-terrorism in the United Nations framework in accordance with the cooperation between two countries’ defence ministries. Cambodia and China have conducted the exercise four times in the past, during 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020. In 2021 and last year, the event was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic./. … [Read more...] about Cambodia-China joint military drill begins

The first wave of bullishness as China began abandoning its zero-Covid policy in December lifted airline stocks and online travel agencies like Trip.com Group Ltd. But with global airlines being slow to add capacity to connect China with the U.S. and Europe and Chinese travelers preferring trips closer to home, a new set of stocks is benefiting. Thailand has re-emerged as a favorite destination for Chinese travelers, and also for investors. "We were active earlier in terms of domestic travel, lodging space and airports, where we've done quite well," said Elaine Tse, portfolio manager at Allspring Global Investments. Tse said the firm has locked in some profits from those bets. "We are optimistic on a rebound in regional and international travel and continue to get exposure through airports and airplane leasing." Shares of airports, such as Airport of Bangkok and Shanghai International Airport have underperformed the big three Chinese airlines Air China, China Eastern and … [Read more...] about China travel rebound bets turn toward airports, away from airlines

Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and his Lao counterpart Lieutenant General Vongkham Phommakone co-chaired the event. At the dialogue, the two sides shared a common perception on the impacts of regional and global situations, the rise of non-traditional security challenges, major power’s growing competition for influence in Asia-Pacific. They agreed that in that context, ASEAN has continued to promote its centrality in the region, enhance dialogues and cooperation among ASEAN member states and other partners for regional peace and stability. The two sides spoke highly of the outcomes of their bilateral defense cooperation over the past time, especially the successful organization of nearly 30 big and meaningful activities in the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Year of Solidarity and Friendship in 2022. They also praised the two sides’ agencies and units for their great efforts and close coordination to fulfill the cooperation plan for … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Laos hold 3rd defense policy dialogue