At the meeting with Lao Minister of National Defense Sr. Lt. Gen. Khamliang Outhakaysone, Gen. Cuong expressed his hope that on the basis of the protocol on defense cooperation in the 2025-2029 period, the cooperation plan for 2025 and the common perception between the two countries’ senior leaders, the two sides would maintain all-level delegation exchanges, effectively carry out mechanisms such as the annual meeting among Defense Ministers of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, the joint exercise among Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian militaries in Laos, and the fifth Vietnam-Laos Defense Policy Dialogue. In addition, the two sides should improve the quality of human resource training and enhance sharing of experience in Party and political work.
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Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong and Sr. Lt. Gen. Khamliang Outhakaysone |
The Vietnamese general congratulated Laos on successfully performing its role as ASEAN Chair in 2024. He confirmed Vietnam’s support to Laos and Russia, the co-chairs of the ADMM+ Experts Working Group (EWG) on Humanitarian Mine Action for the 2024-2027 tenure.
Speaking highly of the great and practical outcomes of the bilateral defense cooperation, deserving to be one of the important pillars in the nations’ bilateral relations, Gen. Khamliang Outhakaysone believed that the two militaries’ cooperation would be tightened and develop more strongly.
* Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Cambodia Gen. Tea Seiha, Gen. Cuong underlined the achievements in bilateral defense ties in delegation exchanges, particularly high-level ones, dissemination about the two countries and militaries’ solidarity, defense policy dialogue and consultation mechanism, personnel training, border management and protection, exchange of young officers and young leaders in the military, and mutual support and coordination at multilateral forums.
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Gen. Cuong has a bilateral meeting with Lao Deputy PM and Defense Minister Gen. Gen. Tea Seiha. |
Gen. Cuong hoped that the two sides would pay attention to and comprehensively, practically, and effectively implement the protocol on defense cooperation in the 2025-2029 period, the cooperation plan for 2025 between the two defense ministries.
According to an assessment by Gen. Tea Seiha, the cooperation in personnel training, search, and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer troops and advisors who sacrificed their lives in different war periods in Cambodia has been promoted by the two sides and reaped practical results. The Cambodian general asked Vietnam to back Cambodia in co-chairing the ADMM+ EWG on Cyber Security with Australia in the 2024-2027 period.
* In his meeting with Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Gen. Cuong expressed his delight at the two countries’ military-defense cooperation outcomes, especially after the official visit to Vietnam by the former in May 2022, and affirmed Vietnam’s support to Indonesia, the co-chair with the U.S. of the ADMM+ EWG on Military Medicine in the 2024-2027 period.
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Gen. Cuong talks with Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin |
He suggested the two sides promote all-level delegation exchanges, especially high-level ones, consultation and dialogue mechanisms, training, and port visits, and hoped for further cooperation between the two law enforcement forces at sea. He asked for Indonesia’s support to Vietnam’s efforts to have the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning against its seafood removed.
Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin highly praised the bilateral defense ties and thanked Vietnam for sending a ship to the Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo 2025, contributing to its success. He suggested the two sides consider expansion of cooperation in potential areas, including defense industry.
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Gen. Cuong and Malaysian Defense Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin |
* Sharing his delight at the fine development in Vietnam-Malaysia relations with Malaysian Defense Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin during their meeting, Gen. Cuong laid stress on the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership announced during Party General Secretary To Lam’s official visit to Malaysia last November. He highlighted the bilateral defense cooperation outcomes in delegation exchanges, dialogue mechanisms, personnel training, search and rescue operations at sea, port calls, active consultation, and mutual support at multilateral forums. Gen. Cuong voiced Vietnam’s support to Malaysia in performing its role as the co-chair of the ADMM+ EWG on Counterterrorism with India in the 2024-2027 period.
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Gen. Cuong presents a souvenir to Malaysian defense chief Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin. |
Both the Malaysian minister and Gen. Cuong agreed to boost the implementation of the first defense policy dialogue mechanism, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments on cooperation in law enforcement and search and rescue operations at sea. They were also unanimous in building an agreement on establishing a joint maritime patrol mechanism and a communication channel between the two navies.
* Earlier the same day, Gen. Cuong met with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Thailand Phumtham Wechayachai, during which both expressed due attention to bilateral defense ties and agreed to bolster them. Accordingly, the two sides will effectively maintain defense policy dialogue and consultation mechanisms, exchanges between corps and services, training, navigation security and safety, mutual support at multilateral forums, particularly ADMM and ADMM+.
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At the meeting between Gen. Cuong and Thai Deputy PM and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai |
On the afternoon the same day, General Nguyen Tan Cuong and head delegates of ASEAN militaries attended a tea party hosted by Malaysian Minister of Defense.
By Van Hieu from Penang, Malaysia
Translated by Mai Huong