The statement was made by Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich at a meeting with his Lao counterpart General Chansamone Chanyalath on December 4 in Hanoi.
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The two defense ministers sign the cooperation plan for 2021. |
At the event , General Lich congratulated leaders of the Lao Defense Ministry and troops of the Lao People’s Armed Forces on the 45th anniversary of Laos’ National Day (December 2) and the success of the 5th Congress of the Party Organization of the Lao People’s Armed Forces.
For his part, General Chansamone Chanyalath expressed his sympathy over the losses caused by the recent floods to the Vietnamese military and people in central Vietnam.
He congratulated Vietnam on its fulfillment of the 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship, including the successful organization of ASEAN military - defense meetings amid complicated developments in the global and regional security situation and the COVID-19 pandemic. He affirmed that the Lao Defense Ministry will continue supporting Vietnam to successfully hold the 14th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the 7th ADMM Plus next week.
The Lao Defense Minister emphasized that Laos has treasured the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam. He also appreciated the support of the Vietnamese Defense Ministry and military units for the Lao People’s Armed Forces in various fields, including exchanging experience and providing medical supplies for the Lao People’s Armed Forces in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the event, the two generals expressed their delight at the outcomes of the defense cooperation this year. They said that despite the complicated developments in the global and regional situations and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cooperation between the two militaries has been continuously consolidated, contributing to ensuring defense-security stability, promoting socio-economic development in each nation and serving as an important pillar in the countries’ relations.
The two generals also agreed that the two defense ministries have fruitfully carried out this year’s cooperation plan especially in sharing anti-pandemic experience and providing medical supplies to help each other in COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control. This has demonstrated the two defense ministries’ determination not to let COVID-19 affect bilateral defense ties.
Regarding next year’s cooperation orientations, the two ministers agreed to coordinate in directing their defense ministries’ agencies to effectively implement defense cooperation deals. The two defense ministries will further improve the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms, especially the defense policy dialogue at the deputy minister level while boosting delegation exchanges at all-levels.
The two sides will also strengthen coordination between their border management and guarding forces in combating trans-national crimes, especially smuggling and drug trafficking, and enhance border patrols, the management of the shared borderline, border gates, and border crossings to thoroughly prevent illegal exit and entry so as to avoid COVID-19 transmission.
In addition, the two ministries will continue to share experience in army building and ensuring political stability and public order in each country, contributing to the success of the national Party congresses in the two countries.
At the meeting, the two defense ministers signed the cooperation plan for 2021 between the two militaries.
Translated by Tran Hoai