The conference was held to review the twinning ties between Army Corps 15 Command and the Steering Committee on Political Establishment Building and Comprehensive Rural Development under the Lao MND, which were founded in 2018 according to the two MNDs’ approval.

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An overview of the conference

Co-chairing the event were Lieutenant General Vongkham Phommakone, Lao Deputy Minister of National Defense, and Major General Hoang Van Sy, Commander of Army Corps 15.

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The two sides sign operation plan for the 2023-2028 period.

The conference confirmed that Vietnam and Laos are neighboring countries sharing the borderline stretching 2,338 kilometers. In their history, the two countries have always given support to each other.

Since the establishment of their relations, the two units have promoted their high sense of responsibility, solidarity, and trust and supported each other to excellently accomplish all tasks.

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Lt. Gen. Vongkham Phommakone pins the Second-class Bravery Order on Army Corps 15’s “Determined-to-Win” flag.

Defining defense diplomacy an important task, they have regularly exchanged information and made recommendations to develop plans to carry out the twinning contents in an effective and practical manner.

Especially, in 2019, the two units jointly conducted a survey on the natural and socio-economic conditions of the Lao provinces of Xaisomboun and Xiangkhouang serving as a foundation for the Lao side to design highly efficient projects on farming, husbandry, and biofertilizer production.

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Lt. Gen. Vongkham Phommakone hands over the Third-class Bravery Order to the Vietnamese unit’s individuals.

The Vietnamese unit also organized a health check-ups and gift presentation program for 600 people in Xaisomboun province, gave a support of VND 300 million to the Lao unit to build a public facility, granted full-time scholarships, totally valued at VND 1.5 billion, to five Lao students of the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) University, and opened a training course on agriculture for 80 cadres from the Lao MND, among others.

Notably, the Economic Cooperation Company 385 of Army Corps 15 has assisted Laos and its people in socio-economic development, defense and security consolidation.  

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Delegates in a joint photo

At the event, the two sides discussed and mapped out cooperation orientations and contents and signed the minutes of the meeting as well as the operation plan for the 2023-2028 period.

Lt. Gen. Vongkham Phommakone presented the Second-Class Bravery Orders of the Lao MND to Army Corps 15, Major General Hoang Van Sy, former Second-in-Command and Chief of Staff of Army Corps 15 Senior Colonel Le Xuan Phuong, and Head of the Planning and Business Division under the corps Senior Colonel Tran Ngoc Hai.

The Lao general also handed over the Third-Class Bravery Orders to two groups and four individuals of the corps.

Translated by Mai Huong