Signing of the Protocol on Vietnam-Laos Defense Cooperation for the period 2025-2029

Within the framework of the 2nd Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange in Moc Chau district (Son La province), General Phan Van Giang, Member of the Political Bureau, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, held talks with General Chansamone Chanyalath, Member of the Political Bureau of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of National Defense of Laos.

During the talks, General Phan Van Giang emphasized that 2024 will witness many important events in the cooperative relationship between the two countries and their armed forces, notably: the high-level meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam and 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 Dien Bien Phu Victory, and the upcoming 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army...

General Phan Văn Giang and members of the Vietnamese delegation at the talks.

General Chansamone Chanyalath and members of the Lao delegation at the talks.

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.

Political trust, a higher strategic level, and a stronger bond of solidarity between the two countries' militaries are being further consolidated. Both sides coordinate closely and support each other in multilateral forums, mechanisms, and international events organized by each side, especially during Vietnam's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 and Laos's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024.

The forms and mechanisms of cooperation are becoming increasingly diverse and widespread. Many historically significant and first-of-its-kind defense diplomacy events have been organized, such as: the first Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange (2021), the first Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange (2023)...

The Deputy Minister-level Defense Policy Dialogue mechanism has played a crucial role in exchanging and sharing views on strategic issues, promptly guiding priorities and areas of cooperation. Security and order in the border region between the two countries have been increasingly strengthened. Cooperation in human resource training is increasingly valued. Cooperation in defense industry and defense economy is becoming more focused, targeted, and effective...

General Chansamone Chanyalath highly appreciated the preparations for the second Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange; emphasizing that this exchange continues to affirm the effective and unique cooperation model between the two countries, and is also an activity with profound political significance, demonstrating the political determination of the Party, State, Army, localities, 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.

General Phan Van Giang and General Chansamone Chanyalath signed a cooperation agreement 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. First, 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.

This also includes maintaining the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms, such as annual high-level delegation exchanges, Deputy Minister-level Defense Policy Dialogue, 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; cooperating in human resource training; and improving the effectiveness of mutual support.

In this context, the Lao Government and Ministry of Defense continue to facilitate the search, excavation, and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos during various periods of war.

At the conclusion of the talks, General Phan Van Giang and General Chansamone Chanyalath signed the Protocol on Defense Cooperation for the period 2025-2029 and the Cooperation Plan for 2025.

Tra Khanh

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/ky-nghi-dinh-thu-ve-hop-tac-quoc-phong-viet-nam-lao-giai-doan-2025-2029-ar903257.html