The Vietnamese high-ranking delegation was led by Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang. The Lao and Cambodian delegations were respectively headed by General Chansamone Chanyalath and General Tea Seiha.
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An overview of the meeting |
At the event, General Tea Seiha, who is Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, emphasized that the annual meeting was an opportunity to assess the results of defense cooperation over the past period while reaffirming their strong commitment to enhancing the traditional friendship and good neighborly relations that bring mutual benefits to the people of the three countries. Highly appreciating the effective cooperation between the three countries' armed forces, he said that the ties have contributed to maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the border regions and to building the ASEAN Community.
Speaking at the meeting, Gen. Giang emphasized that Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia are close neighbors. The historical and natural factors have formed a strong, close bond, helping the three countries support, supplement, develop, and protect one another. History has proven that strengthening unity and solidarity between the three countries and their armed forces is an objective necessity, a vital rule, and the most important factor in ensuring peace, stability, and development in each country. The Vietnamese defense leader affirmed that Vietnam always values the sincere and impartial support from Laos and Cambodia in the national liberation struggle, the reunification of the country in the past, and in the current efforts to build and defend the Fatherland. He emphasized that Vietnam will continue to prioritize the enhancement of trustful and close relationship with Laos and Cambodia.
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The three defense ministers signing the minutes of the annual meeting |
For his part, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Chansamone Chanyalath said that the event symbolizes the solidarity and friendship among Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. These three countries share a common border, a common fate, and their peoples have a tradition of helping one another, standing side by side in the fight against common enemies. In any circumstances, the three countries stay united. The three Parties, governments, armed forces, and peoples have continuously strengthened and nurtured the Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia friendship, which is now flourishing. The Lao defense leader reaffirmed the key role of the armed forces of the three countries in building, maintaining, protecting, and developing their precious friendship and solidarity.
Also at the meeting, the three ministers evaluated that, along with the positive development of relations among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, the trilateral defense cooperation has continued to achieve more substantive and effective results. The annual meeting mechanism and joint exercise between the three armed forces have been maintained, becoming a model for cooperation among neighboring countries. Leaders from the defense ministries and agencies of the three countries have regularly met to exchange and share strategic views and strengthen political trust; coordinated with and given advice on military and defense matters to the leadership of each country. The coordination in disseminating information about the history, significance, and importance of the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia solidarity has been paid due attention to. In addition, cooperation in border management and protection remains a highlight in defense relations among the three countries. Thanks to that, peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in the areas along the shared borderline continue to be fostered. The three militaries have closely cooperated and supported each other at multilateral forums, mechanisms, and international events hosted by each country.
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The three defense ministers in a joint photo |
To further deepen defense cooperation between the three countries in the future, the ministers agreed to maintain the effective mechanism of the annual meeting among the three defense ministers, considering it a key activity in the annual defense cooperation plan to share strategic issues; organize annual joint training and exercises among the three militaries to respond to non-traditional security challenges, such as disease prevention, search and rescue, disaster relief, and transnational crime combat, and cooperation in more other areas. They will also continue consulting and supporting each other at international and regional multilateral forums, thereby elevating the status and role of each country and contributing to ASEAN's unity and centrality.
Gen. Giang expressed his sincere thanks to the Lao and Cambodian defense ministers for accepting the invitation to attend the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army, the 35 years of the Whole-People Defense Festive Day, and the second Vietnam International Defense Expo in Hanoi.
Reported by Thu Trang (from Cambodia)
Translated by Tran Hoai