Defense Minister meets with Lao and U.S. counterparts

Defense Minister Phan Van Giang (left) and his Lao counterpart Chansamone Chanyalath

During the meeting with General Chansamone Chanyalath, the two ministers exchanged and reviewed the results of the Vietnam - Laos defense cooperation over the past time and mapped out orientations for bilateral cooperation in the coming time, including increasing the frequency of young officer exchanges.

The Lao defense minister asked Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense to promote coordination in taking former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Laos back to the old battlefield on the occasion of the 75th founding anniversary of the Lao People's Army in January 2024.

Moreover, both ministers agreed to promote collaboration to successfully organize the first Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange in this December.

Defense Minister Phan Van Giang (in military uniform) and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

During the meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the two sides agreed to enhance Vietnam - U.S. defense cooperation in accordance with the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development that the two countries established in September this year.

Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his deep gratitude for Vietnam's support in searching for remains of U.S. soldiers missing in action during the war.

For his part, General Phan Van Giang affirmed the significance of the cooperation in the settlement of war consequences for Vietnam - U.S. bilateral relations, requiring the U.S. Department of Defense to support the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024.

Reported by Thu Trang from Jakarta, Indonesia

Translated by Quynh Oanh