A ceremony was held in the Lao capital city of Vientiane on January 6 to inaugurate a lecture hall and office block at the Kaysone Phomvihane National Defence Academy.

The project was a gift from Vietnam ’s Ministry of National Defence to its Laotian counterpart.

Construction of the five-storey building started in April 2004 on a site of 5,400 sq.m at a cost of nearly 64 billion VND (3.5 million USD).

When addressing the ceremony, Vietnamese Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Douangchay Phichith highlighted the traditional friendship and special cooperation between the two countries, particularly the two armed forces.

The two ministers confirmed that both armed forces are now consolidating national construction and defence.

Later the same day, Thanh was received by Choummaly Sayasone, Laos Party General Secretary and State President./.