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Sr. Lt. Gen. Khamliang Outhakaysone welcomes General Phan Van Giang. |
The event was presided over by his Lao counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone. After the ceremony, the two defense leaders held talks.
The Vietnamese Defense Minister expressed his delight at meeting his Lao counterpart again and congratulated Laos on the successful organization of the Congress of the Party Organization of the Lao People’s Army for the 2025–2030 term. He expressed his firm belief that under the sound leadership of the People’s Revolutionary Party and the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Defense of Laos, its military will continue to achieve even greater successes, contributing positively to the cause of national construction and defense, and further strengthening the great friendship between the two countries.
General Phan Van Giang also expressed deep gratitude for the invaluable, sincere, and effective support that the Party, State, armed forces, and people of Laos have extended to Vietnam over the years.
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The Lao defense leader presides over the welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation. |
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The two defense ministers review the guards-of-honor of the Lao People’s Army. |
Senior Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone, for his part, expressed his sympathy for the heavy human and material losses suffered by the Vietnamese people in the recent floods and storms. He congratulated Vietnam on the successful organization of the 13th Military Party Congress for the 2025–2030 term and expressed his pleasure at meeting General Phan Van Giang again. He commended Vietnam for its outstanding and comprehensive achievements in recent years and affirmed that Laos always remembers and is deeply grateful for the immense support, assistance, and contributions that Vietnam has provided during Laos’s struggle for national liberation and unification, as well as in the current period of national renewal, development, and defense.
During the talks, both sides expressed satisfaction with the effective implementation of the Cooperation Protocol in the 2025–2029 period and the annual cooperation plan in 2025. The two ministers noted that cooperation between the two ministries had been carried out substantively in such areas as education and dissemination about the Vietnam–Laos friendship, information exchange, collaboration between arms and services, and cooperation in logistics and technical service work, and defense industry.
The two ministers agreed that, in the coming time, both sides will continue to effectively promote communication and education on the history, significance, and importance of the great Vietnam–Laos relationship, particularly among the younger generations. They continue to place great importance on cooperation in human resource training, considering it a matter of long-term strategic significance and a core pillar in strengthening the foundation of the special relationship between the two countries and their militaries.
They also agreed to further cooperation in logistics and technical fields, enhance IT capacity and infrastructure, continue mutual support at multilateral forums, and maintain the mechanism of the annual meeting among the defense ministers and the joint search and rescue exercises among the armed forces of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. These activities will be designed with rich and practical contents, reflecting the solidarity and traditional friendship among the three neighboring countries.
General Phan Van Giang emphasized that this year, the Lao Party and State will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the foundation day of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, an important milestone not only for Laos but also a shared joy for the Vietnamese people. With rich experience in organizing major national events, Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense stands ready to support and accompany the Lao Ministry of Defense in preparing for this significant celebration.
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General Phan Van Giang speaks at the meeting. |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Khamliang Outhakaysone speaks at the meeting. |
The two defense leaders expressed confidence that the upcoming annual meeting of the three defense ministers and the joint search and rescue exercise among the armed forces of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, scheduled for October 15, would be a great success, further deepening the solidarity and close bond among the three nations and their militaries amidst increasingly complex regional and global developments.
At the conclusion of the talks, the two defense ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministries of National Defense of Vietnam and Laos on strengthening cooperation in personnel training and capacity building.
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The two defense leaders sign the memorandum of understanding. |
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General Phan Van Giang and the Vietnamese delegation lay wreaths and offer incense at the Martyrs' Monument in Vientiane. |
Earlier the same day, General Phan Van Giang and the high-ranking Vietnamese defense delegation laid wreaths and offered incense at Martyrs' Monument in Vientiane.
Reported by Thu Trang (from Vietiane, Laos)
Translated by Tran Hoai