PM welcomes Cambodian, Lao defence ministers

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Tea Banh, and Lao Minister of National Defence Chansamone Channhalat in Hanoi on December 19.

PM Phuc welcomed the two ministers’ visits to Vietnam and attendance at the 75th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944).

The PM said Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are three neighbouring countries with shared border lines, adding that the nations are also members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Over the past time, the trilateral relations have been continuously consolidated and developed in various fields based on the respect for each country’s independence, self-reliance, sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality, and mutual benefits, he said.

 

The effective implementation of the development triangle cooperation programme linking the Central Highlands of Vietnam, the northeast of Cambodia, and the southeast of Laos has helped improve lives of local people and ensure political stability, security, and defence in the respective countries, PM Phuc added.

In the context of complicated and unpredictable developments in the region and the world, the three countries are affected by common challenges such as cross-border crime, drug crime, human trafficking, free emigration, trans-national smuggling, and particularly the destruction of hostile forces, he added.

Given that, the three nations should enhance cooperation, especially in defence and security to maintain a peaceful and stable environment in each country and the region at large, PM Phuc suggested.

Tea Banh informed the Vietnamese PM about the good outcomes of a joint rescue drill at a border area in Vietnam’s Long An province and Cambodia’s Svay Rieng province. 

Meanwhile, Chansamone Channhalat said Laos will support Vietnam to fulfill important external tasks in 2020, including the role of ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021.

 

They are not historical events of Vietnam but of the three Indochinese countries, he said.

The minister noted that Laos will host activities later this month to mark the 70th anniversary of the traditional day of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos (October 30) to express deep gratitude to them.

PM Phuc highly appreciated the three countries’ defence ministries for actively supporting each other at regional and international forums, especially at the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM+.

He asked the ministers to convey his best regards to Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as well as other government leaders of the two countries./.