The Vietnamese delegation was led by Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang. The Lao and Cambodian delegations were headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath and Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Tea Seiha, respectively.
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General Phan Van Giang speaks at the meeting. |
The Vietnamese Defense Minister affirmed that Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are three close neighbors which share the Mekong River and Truong Son Mountain Range. He said that at the senior meeting in September in Hanoi, leaders of the three parties affirmed that the traditions of the solidarity and mutual support among the three countries are one of the most important factors and a great source of power in the struggle for national liberation and independence and current national protection and defense cause in each country.
General Phan Van Giang affirmed that the first Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange is an event holding historical significance that contributes to writing a new page of the traditional relationship, friendship, and solidarity among the three countries. The success of the event will create a new momentum to further strengthen political trust and relationship among three militaries in general and practical cooperation among the three border guard forces in particular and boost economic development and people-to-people exchange among the Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian people in border areas.
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General Chansamone Chanyalath at the event |
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General Tea Seiha at the meeting |
The head of the Vietnamese delegation emphasized that activities within the exchange spread the message of solidarity, friendship, and mutual support among three countries and affirmed the importance of maintaining a borderline of peace, stability, friendship, cooperation, and development to ensuring defense and security for socio-economic development in each country. They enhanced the three border guard forces and peoples’ awareness of and responsibility in protecting the borderline, contributing to strengthening the relationship among border localities in particular and the general relations of the three countries in general.
He added that activities within the exchange and the annual meeting among three defense ministers demonstrate the three countries’ political determination to strengthen and lift the solidarity to a new height. The border marker at the junction of the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia borderline has become a marker of friendship among three neighbors which are determined to build a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation, and prosperous development.
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The three defense leaders sign the cooperation agreement. |
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The three defense ministers witness the signing of cooperation agreements. |
For his part, General Chansamone Chanyalath emphasized the continuous efforts of the three parties, governments, militaries, and people in consolidating and nurturing the friendship and solidarity among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Highlighting the significance of activities within the program and the annual meeting, the Lao Defense Minister said that they are important milestones and symbols of the solidarity and friendship among the three countries.
Recalling the tradition of supporting each other in difficult times, General Chansamone Chanyalath said that the militaries must be core forces in building, preserving, protecting, and developing the invaluable friendship and solidarity among three countries.
At the meeting, head of the Cambodian delegation Tea Seiha credited the first border defense friendship exchange among three countries as an opportunity for them to review the outcomes of their defense ties over the past time and reiterate their commitment to strengthening the traditional friendship and neighborliness. He highly appreciated the effective cooperation among the three militaries on the basis of respecting and trusting each other, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in border areas and building the ASEAN Community.
The three ministers evaluated that over the past time, the defense ministries of the three countries have closely and effectively coordinated to actualize the common perception of the three countries' senior leaders on military and defense cooperation and obtained practical results. The three countries have effectively maintained the annual meeting among the three ministers of defense, a mechanism established in 2012; conducted joint search and rescue exercises in Laos in 2022 and the joint military medical exercise to respond to non-traditional security challenges within the framework of the exchange this year. Thanks to the efforts, the situation in border areas has stayed stable, and the borderlines and border markers have been well protected. Security and order in border areas have been well ensured. Arising issues have been promptly detected and handled well. The living standards of border people have improved while socio-economic development has been closely combined with security and defense consolidation.
Regarding orientation for their future cooperation, the three defense leaders agreed to focus on strengthening political trust, boosting meetings and exchange of high-level delegations, effectively utilizing such available cooperative mechanisms as annual meeting among three defense ministers, deputy ministerial-level defense policy dialogue, and meetings on the sidelines of multilateral events.
The three countries will disseminate and educate troops and people, especially young generation, about the history, significance, and importance of the solidarity among three countries and militaries. They will also diversify cooperation activities among three defense ministries and three militaries, especially among border guard forces, military regions, arms and services, and foster joint events to effectively respond to non-traditional security challenges.
The Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodia defense ministers agreed to continue supporting each other at international and regional multilateral forums, especially mechanisms in ASEAN, including ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM+, and support the Lao Defense Ministry to successfully fulfill the role as the Chair of ASEAN military and defense conferences in 2024.
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The delegations of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in a joint photo |
At the meeting, the three leaders exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern and affirmed the determination of the three defense ministries and three militaries to strengthen solidarity and contribute to the central role of ASEAN as well as ASEAN's common stance on regional security issues.
General Phan Van Giang took the occasion to invite Generals Chansamone Chanyalath and Tea Seiha and high-ranking Lao and Cambodian defense delegations to attend the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam People’s Army and the second Vietnam International Defense Expo slated for December, 2024 in Hanoi.
At the end of the meeting, the three defense leaders signed and witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements.
Translated by Tran Hoai