At the meeting, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense General Chansamone Chanyalath warmly welcomed the Vietnamese defense minister and his counterpart Tea Banh from Cambodia; reviewed defense cooperation among the three countries over the past time and discussed measures and solutions.
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The three defense ministers and delegates at the event |
The three defense ministers highly appreciated the importance of the annual meeting, considering it a practical activity to contribute to solidarity, friendship and cooperation among the militaries in particular and the countries in general. The defense ministers also discussed regional and international issues of common concern; cooperation orientations in the time to come, such as delegation exchange, organizing joint search and rescue exercises, and coordinating to combat transnational crimes; and sharing information related to hostile forces sabotaging their countries.
General Giang thanked General Chansamone Chanyalath for conducting the annual meeting, especially amid the complicated developments of regional and world situations, as well as security challenges facing the three countries.
The Vietnamese defense minister also congratulated Cambodia on successfully organizing commune/ward council elections which will pave the way for the success of its National Assembly elections in 2023. He also spoke highly of the Cambodian Defense Ministry’s organization of ASEAN military-defense conference 2022, thereby making important contribution to maintaining ASEAN’s central role.
He expressed his pleasure that all three countries have maintained political stability and achieved important results in socio-economic development, foreign affairs, defense and security.
General Giang proposed that the three defense ministries should share their strategic visions, maintain the annual meeting among the three defense ministers; and enhance the three militaries’ coordination in responding to non-traditional security challenges. In addition, they need to focus on educating the three countries’ militaries and people, especially the young, on the significance of the Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia solidarity; and for further mutual support at international and regional forums, especially mechanisms in ASEAN such as the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the ADMM Plus, thus promoting the stature and role of each country.
General Giang took the occasion to invite his Lao and Cambodian counterparts to attend an international defense exhibition to be hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense in Hanoi this December.
Translated by Minh Anh