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General Nguyen Trong Nghia (left) and General Khamliang Outhakaysone |
General Khamliang Outhakaysone welcomed General Nguyen Trong Nghia and the high-ranking political delegation of the Viet Nam People’s Army, saying the visit would help strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between the two Parties, States, militaries, and peoples.
The Vietnamese GDP’s Chairman expressed his delight at the achievements of the Party, State, people and Lao People’s Army (LPA), affirming that Viet Nam always attaches great importance to preserving and strengthening its special and faithful relationship with Laos. He said the elevation of bilateral ties to “great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion” had opened a new chapter in Viet Nam - Laos relations.
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General Nguyen Trong Nghia and General Khamliang Outhakaysone exchange souvenirs. |
He emphasized that defense cooperation remains one of the key pillars of bilateral relations. The third Viet Nam - Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange, held in July under the co-chair of the two countries’ deputy prime ministers and defense ministers, was successfully organized and highly appreciated by Viet Nam’s senior leaders, as well as local authorities and people.
General Nguyen Trong Nghia also briefed General Khamliang Outhakaysone on the successful talks between the delegations of two militaries’ GDPs. He also conveyed an invitation from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense of Viet Nam General Phan Van Giang to a high-ranking delegation from the Lao Ministry of Defense and Lao GDP, as well as Lao defense enterprises, to attend and showcase their products at the third Viet Nam Defense Expo, to be held in Hanoi this December.
General Khamliang Outhakaysone welcomed the results of the talks and agreed with the assessments of bilateral cooperation over the past time and priorities for 2026 and the following years. Amidst complex global and regional developments, he stressed the need for the two sides to remain united, coordinate closely and strengthen political education and communications, particularly among younger generations, about the history, significance, and value of the Viet Nam - Laos great friendship and special solidarity.
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General Nguyen Trong Nghia and Sr. Lt. Gen. Vongsone Inpanphim review the guards-of-honor of the Lao People's Army. |
Earlier, Lao Deputy Defense Minister and GDP’s Chairman Sr. Lt. Gen. Vongsone Inpanphim hosted an official welcome ceremony and held talks with Vietnamese GDP’s Chairman Nguyen Trong Nghia. Nguyen Manh Ha, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of Viet Nam in Laos, also attended.
During the talks, Sr. Lt. Gen. Vongsone Inpanphim said the visit reflected the warm friendship, close bonds, and mutual trust between the two militaries and peoples while helping strengthen cooperation between their GDPs.
The Vietnamese GDP's Chairman thanked his Lao hosts for their warm and thoughtful reception, describing the special Viet Nam - Laos relationship, particularly between the two militaries, as unique in the world and “special among special relationships.”
He expressed his pleasure at seeing the special Viet Nam - Laos relationship continuously strengthened and becoming increasingly profound and comprehensive, with ever-stronger political trust and increasingly extensive cooperation across various fields, elevating bilateral ties to a relationship of “great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion.”
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General Nguyen Trong Nghia at the talks |
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Vongsone Inpanphim at the talks |
He said Viet Nam - Laos defense cooperation, including cooperation between the two GDPs, had become increasingly trust-based, comprehensive and substantive. Key areas include political education and communications on the special bilateral relationship; high-level delegation exchanges; visits and experience sharing; border management and protection; human resource training; and the search, recovery and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors who died in Laos.
The Vietnamese GDP’s Chairman took the occasion to thank the Lao Party, Government, military, local authorities, and people for supporting Viet Nam’s 500-day campaign to accelerate the search, recovery, and identification of fallen soldiers’ remains, launched by the Vietnamese Government in March 2026. He described the effort as an important mission with profound political, social, and humanitarian significance.
General Nguyen Trong Nghia also invited a high-ranking delegation from the Lao Ministry of Defense and GDP, as well as Lao defense enterprises, to attend and showcase their products at the third edition of the Viet Nam Defense Expo.
For his part, Sr. Lt. Gen. Vongsone Inpanphim said that cooperation between the two GDPs had contributed to strengthening the Lao People’s Army and fostering relations between the two Parties, States, and militaries. He expressed gratitude for the substantial and effective support provided by the Vietnamese Party, State, military and people to Laos.
The two sides agreed to continue cooperation in delegation exchanges, particularly at the senior level; Party and political work; education on the history and significance of Viet Nam - Laos special solidarity; experience sharing in strengthening local political establishments; personnel training; and the search, recovery and repatriation of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors who died in Laos during wartime.
They also exchanged views on global and regional developments.
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General Nguyen Trong Nghia and the Vietnamese delegation paying tribute to the fallen |
As part of the visit, General Nguyen Trong Nghia and the Vietnamese delegation offered incense and laid a wreath at the Monument to the Heroes and Martyrs in Vientiane.
Translated by Tran Hoai