Defense remains key pillar in Vietnam-Laos relations
The countries will support each other in protecting their sovereignty and territorial integrity and building an independent economy.
Vietnam and Laos foster all-around cooperation in defense ties, which both sides affirmed as a key pillar in the “great bilateral relations” during the visit paid by the Chief of General Staff of the Lao People’s Army.
| Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone, Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army. Photo: VGP |
At talks with Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone, Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army, in Hanoi on June 2, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reiterated that defense is one of the key pillars in the relations and one of Vietnam’s foreign policy priorities.
Chinh said the defense ties matter a lot to the enhancement of the friendship between the two neighboring countries, asking the two armies to continue implementing the cooperation agreement reached by the top leaders with a focus on building a peaceful border; combating transnational crime, mostly drug crime while boosting border trade and improving lives of border residents with the establishing of two clusters of border villages.
The countries need to timely solve problems to support each other in protecting their sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as building an independent economy, the Vietnamese PM told the Lao high-ranking military official, who is on a four-day visit to Vietnam starting on June 1.
Chinh highlighted the role of multilateralism, saying that both countries need to join hands in solving traditional and non-traditional security issues like pandemics, climate change, water security, and cybersecurity.
Khamliang Outhakaysone reaffirmed that Laos attached the importance to the defense relations with Vietnam, making it one of the country’s priorities to preserve the great friendship.
He stressed the importance of building two clusters of border villages as part of efforts to boost border security, people-to-people links, and economic development for both sides.
| Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (L) and Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone, Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army in Hanoi on June 2. Photo: QDND |
Earlier, Khamliang Outhakaysone held talks with Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, at which he highlighted the role of the first Vietnam-Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchange last December, along with partnerships between military zones and border guards of the two countries.
The two Lt Generals agreed to step up information sharing between their border guards, conduct more joint patrols and continue to coordinate in the fight against crimes and illegal migration, ensuring security and safety in border areas, personnel training, and information work. Accordingly, the two defense ministries will work to comprehensively implement their cooperation plan in 2022, the year that marks the 60 years of diplomatic ties and 45 years of a friendship treaty.
On this occasion, Khamliang Outhakaysone was invited to attend the first international defense exhibition in Vietnam, the ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting, and the ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet in the time ahead.
Following the talks, Khamliang Outhakaysone paid a courtesy visit to Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang, who said the bilateral defense cooperation had been deepened across spheres.
Defense relationship is part of the two countries’ broader diplomatic ties which includes several aspects, among them, Hanoi’s ongoing support for Laos’ military and managing transnational challenges, such as drug trafficking or migration, through joint border patrols between the two sides.
Notably, the Vietnam-Laos defense policy exchange is an important channel to share information and align perceptions on issues of common concern in bilateral defense collaboration and regional security.
