General Ngo Xuan Lich (R) and Lieutenant General Vilay Lakhamphong
Warmly welcoming the Lao general’s official visit to Vietnam, Gen. Lich said that the visit would contribute to enhancing the special ties between the two armies in particular and the two nations in general, especially in the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017 and when the two countries have been organizing various activities to mark 40 years of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (July 18) and 55 years of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Laos (September 5).
The Lao general informed the host of the outcomes of his earlier talks with Senior Lieutenant General Luong Cuong, Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army. Accordingly, the two sides reviewed their results of cooperation over the past time and discussed measures to bolster their ties in the coming time.
Both generals highly valued the talks’ results and believed that the relationship between the two militaries would develop fruitfully, making contributions to tightening trust and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States and people of the two countries and to maintaining political security, peace, stability and development of each country.
Sr. Lt. Gen. Luong Cuong and Lt. Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong reviewing the guards of honor of the Vietnam People's Army
Earlier the same day, Gen. Cuong chaired a solemn reception for Lt. Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense.
At the talks between the two generals, Gen. Cuong highly appreciated the pro-activeness and creativity of involved agencies of the two sides in carrying out activities to celebrate the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017. He highlighted the success of four get-togethers held in Laos for Lao military alumni in Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos Military Youth Gala Evening in Vietnamese province of Dien Bien under the theme “Sharing the Truong Son Range, tightening comradeship”, a writing contest on “the solidarity in combat of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia”, and the first-ever Vietnam-Laos Border Friendship Exchange.
Gen. Cuong also added that the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army will dispatch three art troupes to Laos to perform for Lao troops and people at the invitation of the General Department of Politics of the Lao People’s Army.
According to the Vietnamese general, they are politically-meaningful activities that help strengthen mutual trust and raise the two countries’ military youths’ awareness of the friendship and solidarity between the two Parties, States and peoples. That contributes to building a firm political stance for military youths and to combating and foiling hostile forces’ schemes of sabotaging and splitting the Vietnam-Laos ties.
For his part, Lt. Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong affirmed that leaders of the two countries and armies have paid much attention to developing the Party and political work, considering it an important part of the two armies’ activities.
The Lao general also emphasized the key role of the two armies in preventing and combating hostile forces’ sabotage plots trying to split the special solidarity between Laos and Vietnam.
Regarding future cooperation, both generals agreed that the two sides should strengthen cooperation in Party and political work in a more effective manner and with a focus on information dissemination, organization, personnel, and internal political security.
The two sides also promote popularization and education of the two countries’ time-honored friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two armies and peoples.
They agreed to bolster cooperation in training, considering it a long-term strategy of the two countries and armies while continuing the search and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese specialists and volunteer troops who laid down their lives while doing international service in Laos.
The two sides also plan to soon put forward the publication of a bilingual book and a documentary reflecting the two armies’ cooperation in implementing the above missions and make proposals on rewarding groups and individuals with remarkable contributions to fostering the two countries’ and armies’ ties in conducting their missions and the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017.
Translated by Mai Huong