The Vietnamese and Lao Ministers of Defence held talks and signed a protocol – Photo: NAM TRAN
During the talks, the two sides reviewed and assessed the results of five years of cooperation in implementing the protocol from 2020 to 2024 and set goals and directions for future cooperation.
The solidarity between the Vietnamese and Lao armies is being increasingly strengthened.
General Phan Van Giang emphasized that 2024 will see many important events in the cooperative relationship between the two countries and their armed forces.
Typical examples include the high-level meeting between the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; reciprocal visits by high-ranking leaders of the two countries; activities celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Army, the 70th anniversary of the historic Dien Bien Phu victory, and the upcoming 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army…
General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defence of Vietnam, speaks at the talks – Photo: NAM TRAN
General Phan Van Giang affirmed that over the five years of implementing the protocol on defense cooperation for the period 2020-2024, both sides have achieved many important and substantive results, with many areas exceeding the set targets.
Notably, the solidarity and close relationship between the two countries' militaries has been further strengthened.
Leaders of the Ministries of Defense and agencies and units of both sides regularly meet and interact; both sides have coordinated to widely disseminate information about the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance between the two countries and peoples.
In multilateral forums, the militaries of the two countries have consistently demonstrated a spirit of solidarity and mutual support, making positive contributions to efforts to build the ASEAN community.
The forms and mechanisms of cooperation are becoming increasingly diverse and widespread, such as: friendly exchanges in border defense, defense policy dialogues at the deputy ministerial level, and annual cooperation mechanisms between agencies and units of the two countries.
Security and order in the border areas between the two countries are being increasingly strengthened. Border guards, border management and protection forces, and military regions on both sides have coordinated to maintain the stability of the border line and markers; and have propagated and mobilized the people to strictly abide by the signed legal documents.
Maintaining effective twinning programs between border guard posts, companies, and residential clusters plays a crucial role in stabilizing the lives of local people, strengthening security and political foundations, and realizing the shared vision of high-level leaders for a peaceful , stable, and sustainably developed Vietnam-Laos border.
Cooperation in human resource training is increasingly valued. Cooperation in the defense industry and defense economy is becoming more focused, targeted, and effective.
The Lao delegation at the talks.
The Vietnam-Laos border defense friendship exchange is an effective and unique model of cooperation.
Speaking at the meeting, General Chansamone Chanyalath thanked General Phan Van Giang and the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence for the warm and cordial reception, and highly appreciated the preparations for the exchange.
General Chansamone Chanyalath also affirmed that this Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange continues to demonstrate an effective and unique cooperation model between the two countries, and is an activity with profound political significance, reflecting the political determination of the Party, State, Army, localities, and especially the people and border protection forces of Vietnam and Laos in strengthening solidarity and friendship, promoting substantive cooperation to jointly build a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developing border, for the prosperity of each country, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
The two ministers signed the Protocol on Bilateral Defense Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos for the period 2025-2029 and the cooperation plan for 2025 between the Ministries of Defense of the two countries.
In the coming period, the two ministers agreed to focus on several key areas of cooperation, such as strengthening cooperation in Party and political work, with a focus on effective dissemination and education about the history, significance, and importance of the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos, especially major events of the two countries and two armies.
Maintain the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, such as annual high-level delegation exchanges, defense policy dialogues at the deputy minister level, and regular cooperation between agencies and units of both sides.
Strengthening effective cooperation in military and defense matters, especially in responding to non-traditional security challenges; cooperating in managing and protecting borders and boundary markers; and cooperating in human resource training.
To enhance the effectiveness of mutual assistance, the Lao Government and Ministry of National Defense will continue to facilitate the search, excavation, and repatriation of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos.
At the conclusion of the talks, the Ministers of Defence of the two countries signed the Protocol on Bilateral Defence Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos for the period 2025-2029 and the cooperation plan for 2025 between the Ministries of Defence of the two countries.
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