KUNMING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- China and Vietnam held the eighth border defense friendship exchange from Thursday to Friday in Hekou county, Yunnan Province in southwest China, and Lao Cai of Vietnam, as well as relevant port areas.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang led delegations attending the event and held talks.

Dong said China is ready to work with Vietnam to implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two Parties, improve maritime cooperation between the two sides, and contribute to building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Giang said Vietnam is willing to work closely with China to push bilateral defense relations to a new level.

The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a hotline between the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command and the Vietnamese navy. ■