Visiting Lieutenant General Vanthong Bouttavong, Deputy Chief of Laos’s General Staff, emphasized that willingness during a reception for him hosted by General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, at the headquarters of Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense on March 31.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong and Lieutenant General Vanthong Bouttavong at the reception |
At the event, Gen. Cuong confirmed that the Lao general’s visit would contribute to developing the special cooperative ties between the two militaries in the coming time, including Vietnam’s support to Laos in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
The defense leader said that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense (MND) highly valued Laos’ decision on participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations and establishing a peacekeeping center. He added that the Vietnamese ministry will assign its functional agencies, including the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VNDPKO) and the Department of Foreign Relations, to discuss with and support Laos to perform the task.
Gen. Cuong underlined that participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations is among the priorities in Vietnam defense diplomacy policy and an important mechanism in realizing the country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of its foreign relations as well as activeness and pro-activeness in international integration.
He also affirmed that Vietnam stays ready to share experience and assist Laos in U.N. peacekeeping force-building. He highly appreciated the working visit of the Lao general and the delegation of the Lao Ministry of National Defense this time, saying it demonstrates Laos’s political determination in engaging in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
For his part, Lt. Gen. Vanthong Bouttavong informed the host about his effective working session with the VNDPKO earlier the same day. He congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in U.N. peacekeeping operations gained over the past nearly 11 years of engagement, which were highly praised by leaders of U.N. and other countries, helping raise Vietnam and its military’s prestige and role in the region and the world.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong (right) presents a souvenir to Lieutenant General Vanthong Bouttavong. |
The Lao general said that Lao military is willing to receive Vietnam’s support in building its own peacekeeping force, particularly in building legal corridor for the participation, infrastructure, office, training personnel, among others.
According to him, Vietnam is the first exemplar in U.N. peacekeeping force-building for Laos. Therefore, he hoped that the two sides would set up a connection channel on the field as soon as possible. With international cooperation, especially support from Vietnam, Laos will strive to soon establish a peacekeeping force and make an announcement about that.
Translated by Song Anh