Lifting Viet Nam-Laos defense cooperation toward “strategic cohesion”

During the meeting, General Phan Van Giang emphasized that the Vietnamese PM’s official visit to Laos is his first official overseas visit since taking office, clearly demonstrating Viet Nam’s highest priority attached to its relations with Laos. He expressed his belief that Viet Nam-Laos defense relations will become increasingly “strategically cohesive.”

Generals Phan Van Giang and Khamliang Outhakaysone

The two generals spoke highly of the results achieved by agencies and units of the two Ministries of National Defense (MND) in coordinating and implementing the 2026 Cooperation Plan, particularly in carrying out tasks assigned by the senior leaders of the two countries to their respective MNDs.

General Phan Van Giang meets with General Khamliang Outhakaysone.

An overview of the meeting

The two sides agreed to focus on effectively implementing cooperation areas; continue to coordinate and support each other at international and regional multilateral forums and at events hosted by either side, formulate and sign the 2027 Cooperation Plan, and promote cooperation in training and military medicine. They also agreed to coordinate the development of plans for activities to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Laos (September 5, 2027) and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Viet Nam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (July 18, 2027).

Both sides in a joint photo

The Vietnamese defense chief expressed his pleasure at welcoming General Khamliang Outhakaysone on his official visit to Viet Nam, where he will attend the annual meeting of the three defense ministers and witness the joint civil defense exercise in response to a super typhoon among the militaries of Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos from October 12 to 15.

Translated by Chung Anh