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General Phan Van Giang welcoming Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong |
General Giang made the statement during a reception for Lao Deputy Defense Minister cum Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs (GDP) Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong on September 26 at the Headquarters of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense.
Welcoming the Lao delegation to Vietnam, General Giang affirmed that Vietnam always bears in mind the support of Laos during its cause of national liberation and reunification in wartime and national construction during peacetime. Therefore, Vietnam attaches much importance to enhancing and promoting the Vietnam - Laos great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation.
The Vietnamese defense minister noted that despite complicated developments of the world and regional situations, the Vietnam - Laos great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation have still seen important outcomes, in which, bilateral defense cooperation is considered an important pillar in the bilateral relations.
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General Phan Van Giang (R) receiving Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong |
For his part, Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong briefed General Giang on the Lao situation as well as the task of building the Laos People’s Army in recent years. He thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, military and people for standing side by side with Laos during harsh time. Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong also informed General about the recent meeting with GDP Chief of the Vietnam People’s Army General Luong Cuong. Accordingly, he highly appreciated the support and effective cooperation between the Vietnamese and Lao Defense Ministries, adding that he would try his best to effectively implement cooperation plans with the Vietnamese side.
Addressing the meeting, General Giang hailed the outcomes of the talks as well as the comprehensive cooperation between the two militaries in general, and the two GDPs in particular. He requested that both sides should continue to boost cooperation, focusing on Party and political work, joining hands to safeguard the shared borderline of peace and stability, thereby taking care of the border people’s living standards, promoting trade and border trade; disseminating the importance of the first Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange at the ministerial level.
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General Phan Van Giang handing over a souvenir to Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong |
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Delegates during the event |
General Giang also noted that there will be many important political events held in 2024, in which Laos will assume the Chairmanship of ASEAN 2024 and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the foundation day of the Lao People’s Army, while Vietnam will celebrate its 80th anniversary of the foundation day of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. The two defense ministries have agreed to jointly organize these events.
Translated by Minh Anh