Lao Defence Minister welcomed in Hanoi

At the welcome ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Politburo member, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang welcomed Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Laos Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath on December 7 as part of activities to mark the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

During talks in Hanoi following the welcoming ceremony, Giang expressed his belief that under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), the Lao people will fulfil goals in the Resolution adopted by the LPRP’s 11th National Congress and the ninth five-year national socio-economic development plan.

Chanyalath said it is his first visit since the LPRP’s 11th National Congress and aims to foster the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive partnership between the two countries in various areas, including national defence.

Both sides shared the view that the two ministries’ units had effectively held activities during the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022, making contributions to further deepening the special solidarity between the two countries and armies.

They has also effectively implemented the 2022 cooperation plan with positive results in communication work, exchange of delegations, national defence, border management and protection, personnel training, health check-ups and treatment.

Regarding the 2023 cooperation plan, the two sides will focus on Party and political work, defence, border management and protection; logistics, technology; exchange of delegations, personnel training and health check-ups and treatment.

Accordingly, priority will be given to building and ensuring the progress of two village clusters in Houaphanh and Phongsaly provinces according to a plan approved by the two Prime Ministers, as well as personnel training, exchange and twinning for mutual support, ties between the Vietnamese, Lao and Cambodian armies based on the outcomes of the meeting of their defence ministers in September, and support for Laos to hold ASEAN army and defence conferences.

Concluding their talks, the two ministers signed the 2023 cooperation plan and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on legal cooperation in military and defence between the two defence ministries./.