After the reception, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam, Cambodian Minister of Interior Sar Kheng and Lao Minister of Public Security Somkeo Silavon co-chaired the “Friendly Meeting of Vietnamese, Lao and Cambodian Ministers of Public Security.”

Addressing the meeting, Minister To Lam expressed honor and delight at receiving the high-ranking delegation of the Cambodian Ministry of Interior led by Minister Sar Kheng, and the high-ranking delegation of the Lao Ministry of Public Security headed by Minister Somkeo Silavon that are on an official visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cambodia, and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos.

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Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam, Cambodian Minister of Interior Sar Kheng and Lao Minister of Public Security Somkeo Silavon. Source: cand.com.vn 
Moreover, this Vietnam visit of the Cambodian Minister of Interior and Lao Minister of Public Security coincides with the celebration of the 72th Traditional Day of the Vietnam People’s Public Security Forces (August 19), which should be seen as a source of great encouragement and honor from dear and loyal Lao and Cambodian friends and colleagues of the Vietnamese Public Security Forces, the host said.

General Lam underscored that the meeting has been determined by leaders of the three countries as an important event marking a new turning point in the history of the bilateral relations between Vietnam and Cambodia, and Vietnam and Laos. It would also create foundations for other ministries, agencies and localities of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to boost Vietnam-Cambodia and Vietnam-Lao cooperation in the time to come.

Regarding the importance of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Laos, and Vietnam and Cambodia, General Lam said that, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Lao, and Vietnam and Cambodia, traditional friendship and solidarity in fighting common enemies among the three countries have been continuously strengthened and have served as a driving force for peace preservation in the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia generally. In fact, these diplomatic relations, based on the traditional friendship among the three nations that had been tested in their joint struggle against colonialists, united the Vietnamese, Lao and Cambodian peoples in the fight against imperialists and won their national independence in 1975.  

The year of 2017 marks the important events in the history of diplomatic relations of Vietnam and Laos, and Vietnam and Cambodia. In celebrating the important events, the three nations should remember and thank heroic martyrs, wounded soldiers and veterans for their great contributions to the national independence, freedom and peace of each country; they should also be grateful to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who generously sacrificed their blood and flesh for national independence, freedom and peace of Laos and Cambodia, fostering unity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos, and Vietnam and Cambodia, General Lam said.

“We are proud that the friendship, unity in fighting, cooperation and support between Vietnam and Laos, and Vietnam and Cambodia have always been upheld in any circumstances and are considered as a key factor for every victory of each country’s revolution,” General Lam said.

“The Vietnamese Party, State, Public Security Forces and people are happy with the great achievements in politics, socio-economics, culture, security and defense obtained by the Lao and Cambodian peoples in the past years. We also strongly believe that Laos and Cambodia will attain more great achievements in their country’s construction and defense, for prosperity and happiness of each nation as well as peace, stability and development in the region,” General Lam affirmed.

He emphasized that the Vietnamese Public Security Forces are proud to have the friends and colleagues who always cooperate closely with and support effectively the forces in ensuring national security and maintaining social order and safety.

According to General Lam, the three countries’ police and security forces have coordinated closely and effectively in cracking down on numerous large trans-border networks of smuggling, drug trafficking and human trade, and in arresting and returning wanted fugitives of one country hiding in another country.

The three ministers agreed that, in the current context of intensive international integration, hostile forces, reactionaries and transnational criminal organizations are enhancing their operations with more sophisticated and artful tricks so the police and security forces of the three countries should boost cooperation to protect the national security, social order and safety of each country.

The competent forces should focus cooperation on struggling against distorted information and wrong arguments in mass media and cyberspace aiming to undermine the fine friendship and unity between the Vietnamese people and Cambodian people and Lao people while paying due attention to fighting transnational crimes, terrorism and other non-traditional crimes.

For their parts, Cambodian Minister of Interior Sar Kheng and Lao Minister of Public Security Somkeo Silavon thanked Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam and other high-ranking public security officers for the solemn reception.

They also expressed gratitude to Vietnam for its effective support and assistance to their countries over the past years.

They both affirmed that Cambodia and Laos will expand cooperation with Vietnam in fighting transnational crimes as well as plots and activities of hostile forces to further maintain social order and safety and to firmly protect national security of each country.

Translated by Linh Chi