The talks took place right after an official welcome ceremony hosted by Gen. Cuong for his Lao guest at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of Vietnam on March 5.
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Vietnamese Chief of the General Staff General Nguyen Tan Cuong and his visiting Lao counterpart Lt. Gen. Saichay Kommasith review the Guards-of-Honor of the Vietnam People’s Army at the welcome ceremony for the latter. |
On behalf of the Vietnamese MND, Gen. Cuong congratulated Gen. Saichay Kommasith on the appointment as the Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army. He expressed his belief that in his post, the Lao general would contribute to leading the Lao military to develop and tighten the cooperative ties between the two militaries.
The Vietnamese GS chief emphasized that over the past time, the bilateral defense ties and the cooperation between the two GS have reaped practical outcomes, continuously confirming that defense cooperation is among the important pillars in the two countries’ bilateral relations.
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Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong (third from left, front row) and the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnam People’s Army at the talks |
He highlighted the two sides’ close coordination in giving effective suggestions to their Party and State’s leaders on strategic military and defense issues; practical and effective cooperation between arms and services; good bonds between military regions and border guard forces to ensure security, order, and safety in border areas; and further cooperation in personnel training, logistics, and defense industry.
During the talks, the two sides also discussed regional and global situations of common concern and the situation of each country’s militaries.
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Lt. Gen. Saichay Kommasith (third from right, front row) and the high-ranking delegation of the Lao People’s Army |
They voiced their suggestions to boost the two sides’ cooperation. Accordingly, the two sides should jointly and effectively carry out cooperation contents according to the common perception of the two countries’ senior leaders, particularly in the high-level Vietnam-Laos agreement in 2024, and at the meeting among Party leaders of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia on February 22 this year.
They also suggested more sharing of opinions on strategic issues via high-level meetings and the defense policy dialogue mechanism, increased cooperation between arms and services, and between the two countries’ border protection forces. While attaching great importance to the human resource training cooperation, the two sides should accelerate cooperation in such areas as logistics, information technology, and defense industry and continue supporting each other at multilateral forums.
The Lao chief of General Staff affirmed the significance of the Lao delegation’s visit this time and laid stress on the intensive and practical bilateral defense ties over the past time. He noted that last year, the collaboration between two militaries developed comprehensively, especially in exchange of delegations and between arms and services, training, and mutual support at international forums.
Lt. Gen. agreed that the two sides should boost cooperative ties on the basis of the signed documents, thus fostering the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, two militaries.
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Lt. Gen. Saichay Kommasith presents a souvenir to Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong (right). |
While in Vietnam, the Lao delegation offered incense at the Monument for Heroic Martyrs on Bac Son Street, Hanoi, laid a wreath, and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum.
Translated by Mai Huong