In particular, the chief of the General Staff attended the inauguration ceremony of an ethnic boarding culture school of the Lao People's Army. The school was built with Vietnamese funding.
    |
 |
|
Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong (right) presenting a souvenir to the school |
The event was attended by Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath and Lao Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of the General Staff Sr. Lt. Gen. Khamliang Outhakaysone.
Speaking at the ceremony, Gen. Cuong emphasized that the school built on a total area of 6,822sq.m is one of the projects built by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense (MND) for the Lao MND and is one of the symbolic works of the special relationship between the two militaries. Through the project, the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) hopes to accompany the Lao People’s Army (LPA) to enhance the quality of education and training to meet the requirement of national construction and defense in the new situation.
On behalf of the Central Military Commission, the MND, and General Staff of Vietnam, Gen. Cuong acknowledged and praised the responsibility and efforts of personnel of the management board, contractors, construction units, advisors, and observers in overcoming all difficulties to complete the project on time while ensuring its quality and aesthetic value.
|
|
 |
|
Defense leaders and delegates cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the boarding school |
When operational, the school will train more talented and virtuous people to contribute to building a prosperous Laos. It will also help strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
The Vietnamese chief of the General Staff affirmed that the MNDs and general staffs of the two countries will create favorable conditions for the school’s operation, thus helping teachers and students feel secure to teach and study. The Vietnamese defense leader expected that in the next visit, he would see new positive changes in the school and wished the school strong development and successful completions of missions assigned by the Lao MND.
At the event, Sr. Lt. Gen. Khamliang Outhakaysone thanked the Vietnamese side for its valuable support and sentiment to Laos and pledged to work with Lao defense leaders to foster direction to ensure the effective operation of the school, contributing to raising the quality of training for Lao students.
|
|
 |
|
Gen. Cuong and Lao defense leaders planting a tree on the campus of the school |
After the inauguration ceremony, Gen. Cuong and Lao defense leaders planted a tree on the campus of the school and visited sections.
Later the same day, Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong and the Vietnamese high-ranking military delegation visited Star Telecom under brand-name Unitel of the Military Industry-Telecoms Group (Viettel).
Officially launched in October 2009, after 15 year-operation, Unitel has become the largest telecommunications operator and one of the companies contributing the most to the budget and earning great reputation among the Lao Government and people. The business has been credited as a typical model in economic cooperation by the Party and Government of the two countries.
Unitel sets a target to become a leading technology corporation in Laos by 2025 and reach USD 306 million in revenue by the year, continuing to affirm it as a typical example in the economic cooperation between the two parties and two states in general and the two countries' defense ministries in particular.
Talking with Unitel’s personnel, Gen. Cuong acknowledged and praised Unitel's outstanding achievements. He emphasized that Unitel has now become a leading telecommunications - digital service company and gradually shown its profound influence on all aspects of socio-economic life in Laos, helping earn great reputation among the Lao government, military, and people.
|
|
 |
|
Gen. Cuong and the Vietnamese delegation visiting Unitel |
On behalf of the Vietnamese CMC and MND, Gen. Cuong asked Viettel and Unitel’s leaders to continue to uphold unity, take care of its personnel’s life, and make full use of human resources. He added that business activities must closely combine with economic diplomacy and defense diplomacy and serve as a bridge for cooperation between the two MNDs and the two governments.
Together with that, the chief of the General Staff urged Unitel to regularly review its business strategy and quickly adapt to new situations; blaze a trail in the digital transformation in Laos; strive to perform and successfully complete the tasks assigned by the two MNDs; and pay attention to social welfare programs. Gen. Cuong requested all Unitel’s cadres and employees to respect the law; earn trust from the Lao Party, State, and people; maintain healthy competition; do business with kindness and with beautiful culture of Vietnamese and Lao people.
On May 11 morning, the Vietnamese defense leader visited Infantry Division 1, a regular division of the LPA. It is tasked to protect Vientiane and headquarters of the Lao Party and State.
During the visit, Gen. Cuong expressed delight that the Lao unit and Division 324 of Military Region 4 of Vietnam have regularly exchanged and provided support to each other in different fields, including training and logistic and technical work, since they established their twinning relations in 2012. He affirmed that in the spirit of comradeship and brotherhood, the Vietnamese General Staff will always support and facilitate Division 1’s effort to strengthen cooperative relations with Vietnamese ones.
|
|
 |
|
The Vietnamese delegation visiting Infantry Division 1 |
On behalf of the division, its Commanding Officer Major General Ounchanh Dengvansom thanked the VPA in general and personally Gen. Cuong for their valuable, comprehensive, and effective support to the LPA in general and Infantry Division 1 in particular and hoped to receive more attention from them.
While visiting Division 1’s Headquarters, a gift of the Vietnamese MND, the Vietnamese defense leader lauded relevant units for their responsibility and asked them to exert more effort to complete the project as planned.
Reported by Tien Dat (from Vientiane, Laos)
Translated by Tran Hoai