Defense Minister hosts international guests

The Cambodian delegation is participating in the sixth National Congress of the Vietnam Veterans’ Association for the 2017-2022 period.

General Ngo Xuan Lich (R) presents a gift to Major General Somphone Keomisay.

At the reception, General Kun Minh, Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Chief of the Staff of the Royal Cambodian Army and Deputy Head of the Cambodian Veterans’ Association thanked the Vietnamese MND for its support in the past.

He also conveyed Cambodian Prime Minister and the association’s Chairman Hun Sen’s regards to General Lich and hoped that the Vietnamese MND would continue to assist the Cambodian association in creating conditions for the two countries’ veterans’ associations to boost their cooperation in the coming time.

For his part, General Lich asked General Kun Kim to convey his regards to Cambodian PM and Cambodian association’s Chairman Hun Sen.

General Lich highly valued activities of the Cambodian association and its cooperation with Vietnamese association over the past time and confirmed that the Vietnam People’s Army would always support the Cambodian military  and Cambodian association in the cause of national construction and protection.

Hosting the Laos delegation, General Lich applauded active accomplishment of the two countries’ troops and veterans to raise awareness of the two peoples, especially the younger generations, of the two countries’ traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Solidarity Year 2017, the 40th anniversary of the signing of Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (July 18) and the 55th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties (September 5).

Speaking highly of the two countries’ veteran forces’ role, General Lich confirmed that the Vietnamese MND would continue creating conditions for the two associations to further their cooperation in the time to come. He suggested the Lao association keep supporting Vietnam in searching, gathering and repatriating remains of Vietnamese volunteer troops and specialists who died in Laos while on international services there.

Agreeing with General Lich, Major General Somphone Keomisay, Chairman of the Laos association, affirmed that the association would continue to back Vietnam in the work and wished the ties between the two Parties, States, armies, peoples and veteran forces further development.