General Luong Cuong received by Lao Party and State leader

PANO – Senior Lieutenant General Luong Cuong, Member of the Party Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army, started an official visit to Laos at the invitation of his Lao counterpart, Lieutenant General Vilay Lakhamphong.

The Vietnamese defense leader was accompanied by a number of high-ranking Vietnamese military officers during his visit to Laos from July 11 to 14.

On the afternoon of July 11, Lao Party General Secretary and State President Bounnhang Volachit hosted warm reception for General Luong Cuong and his entourage. At the meeting, the Lao leader highly applauded the visit, saying that it would make an important contribution to strengthening traditional friendship, special unity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in the new period, for interests of the two nations. He also expressed congratulations on the great achievements of the Vietnamese people in the reform (Doi Moi) process, national socio-economic development and defense. He considered that, as the two peoples and armies stood side by side in their struggles for national liberation so the two nations should continue fostering that valuable tradition to serve the national construction and defense cause of each country in present times.

Lao Party General Secretary and State President Bounnhang Volachit (R) receiving Senior Lieutenant General Luong Cuong

Highlighting the good outcomes of bilateral defense cooperation in the past, the Lao Party General Secretary and State President suggested that the two armies should function as a major driver of the bilateral relationship to expand cooperation in all areas, particularly Party and political work, so that they can become politically stronger and accomplish all missions assigned by their own Party and people. He pledged to support and create favorable conditions for the two militaries to boost bilateral cooperation on the basis of the agreements signed by the two Governments and Defense Ministries.

The Lao leader believed that bilateral defense ties see new positive developments in the future, contributing significantly to cementing the special close-knit relationship, loyal brotherhood and comradeship between the two peoples and armies of Laos and Vietnam. He also extended regards to Vietnamese Party and State leaders.

General Luong Cuong thanked the Lao Party and State leader for his reception and passed best regards from Vietnamese Party and States to the host. The visiting official expressed delight at the positive developments and practical outcomes of Vietnam-Laos relations. He affirmed that Vietnam treasures and prioritizes its relations with Laos and that the country always tries its utmost to strengthen friendly relations, special unity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam sees bilateral friendly relations and special unity as the invaluable assets of the two Parties and nations, which should be carefully preserved, continuously fostered and passed on to next generations for prosperity of each country and peace, stability and development in the region. The guest expressed his delight at the great achievements reached by the Lao Government and people under the sound leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. He confirmed that the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army will continue cooperating closely and effectively with its Lao counterpart, contributing to strengthening relations between the two armies and countries.

Earlier, the Vietnamese Director of the General Department of Politics had been given an official reception ceremony at the Lao Defense Ministry Headquarters. After the reception, General Luong Cuong and the Vietnamese delegation had a meeting with a high-ranking Lao delegation of the General Department of Politics of the Lao People’s Army headed by Lieutenant General Vilay Lakhamphong.

The host warmly welcomed the Vietnamese delegation and affirmed that the visit would make a significant contribution to stepping up the implementation of the agreements between the two political agencies of the two armies of the two countries as well as those signed by the two defense ministries.

For his part, General Luong Cuong thanked the host for the warm reception and stressed that Laos as a close neighbor of Vietnam is of special importance to Vietnam. Vietnam always considers Laos’ security its own security. He also said that his visit to Laos was his first foreign trip in his capacity as the Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army.  

During the meeting, the two sides briefed each other on the situation of each other’s country and reviewed cooperation between the two highest political agencies of the two militaries. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the positive developments of the bilateral defense ties and good and practical outcomes of bilateral cooperation in the politico-ideological area under the signed Protocol and Cooperation Plan.

The host and guest highly valued the cooperation results in delegation exchange, ideological work, training, experience sharing and information dissemination. They believed that such cooperation activities can enhance mutual trust and understanding, help each other bolster the political and ideological front as well as deny every attempt to undermine Vietnam-Laos friendly relations.

The two sides also discussed and concluded that the two political agencies should focus cooperation on political and ideological work; cultural, sport and professional exchanges between military press agencies and young officers; collection and repatriation of remains of fallen Vietnamese volunteer troops and experts. They also agreed on a program to boost information about the traditions of the two countries’ relationship in the buildup to the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation and Friendship Treaty.

Within the framework of the visit, General Luong Cuong also paid a courtesy call to the Lao Defense Minister, laid wreaths at the martyr memorial, the Ho Chi Minh memorial site and the hometown of former Lao President Cayson Phomvihan.