Source of material and spiritual strengths
As close neighbors, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia have a time-honored and close friendship. According to Lao Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Vietnam Khamphao Ernthavanh, the relations among the three Indochinese countries sharing the same mountains and rivers, including the Mekong River, were tested in the revolutionary war against the same invaders. Standing side-by-side, sharing joys and sorrows in the national salvation cause, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia have shown mutual support in the present national construction, protection, and development.
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Vietnamese and Cambodian military medical forces provide free health check-ups for people in Oyadav district, Cambodian province of Ratanakiri, December 3, 2023. (Photo: Vu Hoang) |
With the same views, Colonel Rem Kann, Cambodian military attaché to Vietnam, said that since their inception, the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, and the Cambodia People’s Party have constantly developed their close ties. He confirmed that traditional solidarity and mutual support are great sources of strength for the three countries.
The time-tested relationship, solidarity, friendship, and close-knit bond among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are priceless common assets that create spiritual and material power for them to support one another in the struggles for national independence in the past and today’s national building, defense, and development, said Col. Rem Kann.
Big festival
On the basis of the fine relations among the three countries, the cooperation among the Vietnam People’s Army, the Lao People’s Army, and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces has received due attention.
According to Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh, the annual meeting among defense ministers of the three countries or the first joint search and rescue exercise among the three militaries in 2022 are typical examples of the defense relations among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Defining the importance of defense cooperation in the overall relationship, the three militaries have closely coordinated to prepare for the first Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia border defense friendship exchange.
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Vietnamese military doctors provide health check-ups for people in Sanxay district, Lao province of Attapeu on December 5, 2023. (Photo: Ngoc Thu) |
Colonel Rem Kann said that with a number of meaningful activities, the exchange is expected to promote the three militaries’ cooperation to a new height, helping boost political trust, build friendship and solidarity, and enhance practical cooperation among the border protection forces, hosting authorities and border people of the three countries, and contributing to a Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia borderline of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation, and development. The exchange also conveys a message of solidarity, friendship, and mutual support among the three governments, militaries, and peoples.
Given that the exchange will be an important event, a big festival of the three militaries and three nations, Ambassador Khamphao Ernthavanh affirmed that the exchange to be held in the joint border areas among the three countries with the engagement of people from all walks of life is a testament to the mutual care, love, and support among their militaries and peoples. This contributes to consolidating the all-people defense posture, building a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, and promoting trust and understanding among the three nations.
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The military medical forces of Vietnam and Laos join hands in the free health examination program for the people of Sanxay district, Lao province of Attapeu on December 5, 2023. (Photo: Ngoc Thu) |
The Lao diplomat emphasized that the exchange is an important milestone in the defense diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy of the three countries.
“This is also an opportunity to disseminate information about the traditional friendship among the three nations, three militaries to domestic and international people. They have stood together, coordinated and supported one another, and jointly fought and foiled all hostile forces’ plots to separate the good Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia relations,” the Lao ambassador said.
(to be continued)
Translated by Mai Huong