During the event, General Giang conveyed his warmest congratulations on the occasion of 50th anniversary of the Lao National Day. He expressed pleasure in witnessing that, over the past five decades, under the sound leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the Lao armed forces and people have stood united, overcome numerous difficulties and challenges, and achieved significant accomplishments in national construction and defense, contributing actively to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
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General Phan Van Giang meets with his Lao counterpart Sr. Lt. Gen. Khamliang Outhakaysone. |
The Vietnamese defense leader voiced his strong confidence that Laos will continue to secure new achievements in its renewal efforts and build a peaceful, independent, democratic, unified, and prosperous country following the socialist path. He reaffirmed that the Party, State, Government, armed forces, and people of Vietnam always cherish the support and assistance rendered by Laos in Vietnam’s past struggle for national independence and reunification, as well as in the current cause of national construction and defense.
Senior Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone expressed sympathy over the severe loss of lives and property suffered by the Vietnamese people due to recent floods. He congratulated Vietnam on its outstanding and comprehensive achievements in recent years and stressed that Laos always remembers and deeply appreciates the profound, wholehearted support and enormous contributions of Vietnam to Laos, both in the historic struggle for national liberation and reunification and in the ongoing efforts of renewal, nation-building, defense, and development. He also expressed sincere thanks to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense (MND) for its support and cooperation in preparing for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Lao National Day.
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The two delegations at the meeting |
Based on the 2026 cooperation plan between the two ministries, signed on December 1 under the witness of the two Party General Secretaries, Defense Minister Phan Van Giang and his Lao counterpart Khamliang Outhakaysone agreed to direct their respective agencies and units to pro-actively develop detailed plans for implementing cooperation activities effectively and substantively, with priority given to preparations for the successful organization of each country’s upcoming Party Congress. They also agreed to strengthen trade connectivity and expand investment markets, especially in border areas.
At the meeting between the two Party General Secretaries on December 1, the Vietnamese MND was assigned as the lead agency for the tasks of constructing a relic site commemorating the First Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party in the border area between Vietnam’s Thanh Hoa and Laos’ Houaphanh; and proposing plans for installing commemorative markers at locations along the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Lao territory (Route 559), with the aim of developing the route into a historical tourism destination.
The two defense leaders agreed that the Lao MND would closely coordinate with and provide information and support to the Vietnamese MND and relevant agencies in implementing these tasks.
Translated by Tran Hoai