Hanoi (VNA) – France is exchanging professional knowledge and experience in military engineering with Vietnam in the United Nations peacekeeping operations during a two-week programme, which commenced in Hanoi on June 25.

The programme is co-organised by the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department (VPD) under the Ministry of National Defence and the French Defence Attaché Office in Hanoi with assistance from the International Organisation of la Francophonie in Vietnam.

French military specialists will provide military engineers of the VPD with theories and practices of landmine and explosive ordnance disposal in compliance with international standards and share expertise with doctors of a level-2 field hospital of the Vietnam Military Medical University in raising awareness of mines and explosive remnants of war in UN peacekeeping missions.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, VPD Director Colonel Hoang Kim Phung spoke highly of Vietnam-France defence relations which have seen comprehensive and significant development in recent years, including cooperation in UN peacekeeping operation. 

The two sides have exchanged visits of defence delegations at all levels and held seminars to share experience and provide training for military officers, he said.

The French support through this programme is practical and valuable to Vietnam, contributing to consolidating fine relations between the two countries, he added.

French Defence Attaché in Vietnam Christophe Talon said through bilateral and multilateral commitments, France wants to become a country providing comprehensive consultation and support for those who are preparing to take part in UN peacekeeping missions. 

The programme demonstrates the trust between Vietnam and France in training units assigned to join UN peacekeeping missions as well as Vietnamese efforts to prepare for the UN missions in the future.

It is the sixth time France and Vietnam have exchanged expertise in UN peacekeeping since 2016.-VNA