The meeting among the defence ministers of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in Vientiane on September 14. (Photo: VNA)Minister Giang and his counterparts Chansamone Chanyalath from Laos and Tea Banh from Cambodia discussed the regional and international issuesof common concern; cooperation orientations for the time ahead, includingincreasing all-level mutual visits, holding joint search and rescue exercises,and coordinating to combat transnational crimes; and sharing information abouthostile forces sabotaging their countries.
The Vietnamese official recommended the three defenceministries step up sharing their strategic visions; maintain the annual meetingamong the three defence ministers; and enhance the three militaries’ coordination in responding to non-traditional securitychallenges.
He also called for more attention to educating the threecountries’ militaries and people, especially the young, on the significance ofthe Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia solidarity; and for further mutual support atinternational and regional forums, especially mechanisms in ASEAN such as theASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the ADMM Plus, thus promoting thestature and role of each nation.
On this occasion, Minister Giang invited his Lao andCambodian counterparts to attend an international defence exhibition to be heldby the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence in Hanoi this December.
Earlier the same day, the high-ranking military delegation ofVietnam took part in a ceremony marking the Laos - Vietnam, Vietnam - Laos Solidarity andFriendship Year 2022 held by the Lao Ministry of National Defence.
Lao Defence Minister Chansamone Chanyalath reviewed the glorioushistory of the two countries’ relations, founded by late Presidents Ho ChiMinh, Kaysone Phomvihane, and Souphanouvong. He also expressed his deepgratitude to the Vietnamese and Lao officials, Party members, soldiers, andpeople who fell down for the sake of the two countries’ revolutions.
In his remarks, Giang thanked the Lao Party, people, andarmy for providing conditions for the search for and repatriationof Vietnam’s volunteer soldiers and experts.
He affirmed that the Defence Ministry of Vietnam will always standside by side with its Lao counterpart during the national development and defence ineach country./.
VNA
