New impetus to promote Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia military cooperation

On December 14th, the Ministries of Defense of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia held their first-ever exchange event in the shared border area. This event contributed to promoting people-to-people exchanges and further strengthening the traditional relations, solidarity, friendship, and close ties between the three neighboring countries.

Friendship landmark

From early morning on December 14th, a vibrant atmosphere of solidarity and friendship permeated the border areas of the three countries ( Kon Tum province/Vietnam, Attapeu province/Laos, and Ratanakiri province/Cambodia), Ngoc Hoi district, and Kon Tum city (Kon Tum province). Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian flags, along with banners and billboards in Vietnamese, Lao, and Khmer, welcomed the first Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange . To the sound of military music, locals joyfully waved flags and flowers to welcome the Vietnamese delegation led by General Phan Van Giang, Member of the Political Bureau, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, and Minister of National Defense; the Lao delegation led by General Chansamone Chanyalath, Member of the Political Bureau, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of National Defense; and the Cambodian delegation led by General Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense.

The Ministers of Defence of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia planted a friendship tree at the tri-border marker on December 14, 2023. (Photo: Manh Hung)

At the tri-border marker of the three countries, the three ministers saluted and painted the sovereignty marker, and planted a friendship tree. Also at this location, the border guards of the three countries coordinated patrols and inspections of the tri-border marker. This was both an opportunity for people from all walks of life in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to remember the sacrifices of previous generations who fell and dedicated their youth to the cause of national liberation, unification, and defense of the Fatherland, and to contribute to raising awareness and responsibility among the people in jointly building a peaceful , friendly, stable, cooperative, and developing border. “The tri-border marker has now become a historical landmark, a landmark of friendly relations between neighboring brotherly nations who share the determination to build a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and prosperous border,” General Phan Van Giang emphasized. On the same day, at the toll booth intersection of the Bo Y international border gate, after observing the joint military medical exercise conducted by the armies of the three countries, the three ministers attended the inauguration ceremony of the Ta Ka village cultural house, and visited and presented gifts to Be Van Dan Primary School (Po Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district).

Let's write a new chapter in the history of friendship.

At the annual meeting of the Ministers of Defense of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, General Phan Van Giang stated: The first Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia border defense friendship exchange is a historically significant event, contributing to writing new chapters in the history of the traditional friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the three countries. The success of the exchange will create new momentum, further promoting political trust and cooperation between the three armies in general, and substantive cooperation between the border protection forces of the three countries in particular. It will also contribute to promoting economic development and people-to-people exchanges between the three countries in the border region.

Medical personnel from the three countries conducted a live-fire exercise to receive and treat victims. (Photo: Mạnh Hùng)

He emphasized that through these exchange activities, a message of solidarity, friendship, and mutual assistance among the three countries was conveyed, affirming the importance of maintaining and strengthening a peaceful, stable, friendly, cooperative, and developing border in the task of ensuring national defense and security, and promoting socio-economic development of each country. The diverse and rich activities within the framework of the exchange will help border guards and the people of the three countries understand and further enhance their awareness and responsibility in safeguarding and protecting the border, contributing to fostering relations between the border localities of the three countries in particular and the overall relations of the three countries in general; creating more consensus and trust in the policies and guidelines of the Party and State of the three countries. According to General Chansamone Chanyalath, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are three countries sharing a common border and a common destiny; the people of the three countries have a tradition of helping each other and fighting side-by-side against common enemies. Regardless of the conditions, circumstances, space, or time, the three countries cannot be separated. Therefore, the armed forces of the three countries must be the core force in building, preserving, protecting, and developing the precious friendship and solidarity between them. General Tea Seiha highly appreciated the effective cooperation between the three armed forces based on mutual respect and trust, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the border region as well as contributing to the building of the ASEAN Community. The Ministers of Defense of the three countries agreed to focus on consolidating the foundation of political trust, strengthening contacts and exchanges of high-level delegations; and continuing to effectively implement mechanisms such as: the annual meeting between the Ministers of Defense of the three countries, the Deputy Minister-level defense policy dialogue, and strengthening high-level contacts on the sidelines of multilateral events and forums. Propaganda and education for the armed forces and people, especially the younger generation of the three countries, on the history, significance, and importance of solidarity among the three countries and their armed forces, particularly in 2024, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Army, and the 45th anniversary of the victory over the genocidal regime. Alongside this, continue to diversify cooperation activities between the Ministries of Defense and the armed forces of the three countries, prioritizing areas such as: exchanges and cooperation between border protection forces, border military regions, and military branches of the three countries through practical cooperation mechanisms such as joint patrols, exchange of experience in border management and protection, and combating transnational crime. Strengthen mutual language training between units stationed in border areas; organize joint activities between the three armed forces to effectively respond to non-traditional security challenges. Continue to support each other in international and regional multilateral forums, especially mechanisms within ASEAN such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+); support the Lao Ministry of Defence in successfully assuming the chairmanship of the ASEAN military and defence conferences in 2024.