According to a representative of the Department of Foreign Relations, the exchange program will take place from October 22 to 23 in Moc Chau district of Vietnam’s Son La province and Sop Bao district of Laos’ Houaphanh province. The Vietnamese delegation will be led by Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang, while the Lao delegation will be headed by Defense Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath.
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Sr. Col. Tong Van Thanh chairs the meeting. |
The exchange will feature several meaningful activities, such as saluting and painting the border marker, planting friendship trees, witnessing a joint patrol and a joint drill on combating cross-border crime, and inaugurating classrooms at the Long Sap Ethnic Minority Boarding Primary and Secondary School. The two sides will also hold talks and sign cooperation documents, visit and present gifts to the Pa Hang Primary and Secondary School. Notably, young officers of the two sides will have a cultural exchange, which will be broadcast live on the Vietnam Television Channel 1.
According to the Department of Political Affairs of the Vietnam Border Guard Command, prior to the exchange, the Vietnam Border Guard Command will collaborate with the Lao Border Guard Department to conduct activities such as planting a "Friendship Flower Garden" and a "Friendship Tree Line of Young Officers of Vietnam and Laos," awarding scholarships to local students, donating breeding cows to families in border areas, and organizing cross-border running events.
Additionally, cultural performances will be held for the communities in the border areas of both countries, and medical teams from both nations will jointly provide free health check-ups and medicines for over 2,000 residents in areas along the shared borderline of Vietnam and Laos.
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A view of the press meeting |
Lao Defense Attaché to Vietnam Colonel Viengxay Soulivong expressed confidence that, with the efforts of the relevant agencies of both sides, the second Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange will be successful, opening up a new chapter in bilateral defense cooperation and leaving a lasting impression of the special solidarity between the two militaries and peoples.
"The second Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange will directly help promote and strengthen the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development in the region and the world. It also marks the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the Whole-People Defense Festive Day," emphasized Col. Thanh.
Translated by Chung Anh