General Luong Cuong paid a courtesy call on Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane on November 17. The Lao Party chief highly appreciated the visit made by General Luong Cuong, stressing that it contributes to fostering the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two parties, states, and people.
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General Luong Cuong (left) pays a courtesy call on Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith. |
In turn, General Luong Cuong expressed his thanks to Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith for a warm reception. He showed his delight at seeing political and diplomatic activities at all levels between the two countries within the framework of the “Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022,” especially the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations (1962-2022) and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (1977-2022) chaired by the two Party chiefs in Hanoi and Vientiane in July, 2022.
General Cuong held that the two defense ministries collaborated to implement the anniversaries with nearly 30 meaningful activities. Recently, the two sides organized exchanges among the two border guard forces, exhibition on the Vietnam-Laos solidarity and combat alliance, and the Vietnam-Laos trade fair.
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Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith in a joint photo with the Vietnamese high-ranking defense delegation |
Notably, in September this year, on the occasion of the official visit of Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang to Laos, the two militaries successfully launched a commando forces exercise for the first time.
Also, during the Vietnamese defense delegation’s official visit to Laos, the two sides organized numerous meaningful activities such as young officers’ exchange, art program serving troops of the Lao People’s Army, and more.
General Cuong affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and military always treasure the great, effective, and whole-hearted supports of the Lao Party, State, military and people during the national construction and defense cause. Vietnam will preserve and develop the Vietnam-Laos special ties and close relationship, considering it as a direct issue related to the existence of the political system of each country, he added.
On the occasion, the Vietnamese GDP Director also thanked the Lao Party, Government, people and defense ministry for creating favorable conditions for the search and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and advisors, who sacrificed their lives in Laos, meeting the desire of the martyrs’ families.
* The same day, General Luong Cuong paid a courtesy call on Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath.
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General Luong Cuong pays a courtesy call on Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath. |
During his meeting with the Lao senior defense leader, General Cuong briefed the host on the outcomes of his previous talks with Lao Deputy Defense Minister and Director of the GDP of the Lao People’s Army Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong. General Luong Cuong held that the two sides agreed on the significant meaning of the cooperation between the two militaries’ GDPs over the past time, the increasingly improved awareness of each country’s servicemen on the history and importance of the solidarity between the two countries and two militaries. In addition, the exchange mechanisms and cooperation models were implemented comprehensively, contributing to enhancing solidarity, friendship, and mutual support between the two militaries and peoples.
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General Luong Cuong, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath, and delegates in a joint photo |
General Luong Cuong hoped that the Lao defense minister will continue supporting the cooperation between the two organs, directing the Lao functional agencies to assist the search, collection and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and advisors in Laos during wartime.
* Previously, Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong, Deputy Defense Minister and Director of the GDP of the Laos People’s Army, hosted a solemn welcome ceremony for General Luong Cuong, Director of the GDP of the Vietnam People’s Army.
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Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong (left) welcomes General Luong Cuong. |
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The two senior officers review the guards-of-honor of the Lao People's Army. |
After the welcome ceremony, the two defense officials co-chaired the talks, which focused on regional and international issues of mutual concern. They also reviewed achievements of the cooperation programs over the past time and proposed measures to enhance collaboration in the time to come.
The two sides agreed to continue enhancing information dissemination for their troops on the history, importance and meaning of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two parties, states, and militaries. They will also promote experience sharing on the Party and political work in each country’s military, the force building, and other policy matters.
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General Luong Cuong speaks at the talk. |
General Luong Cuong believed that the outcomes of the talk will contribute to strengthening the solidarity and friendship between the two militaries in general and the two GDPs in particular. The Vietnamese senior defense officer invited the Lao counterpart and his spouse to visit Vietnam next year.
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Delegates of the two sides pose for a joint photo. |
* As part of the official visit, General Luong Cuong and the Vietnamese high-ranking defense delegation laid wreaths at the Monument for Heroic Martyrs in Vientiane and attended a banquet hosted by Deputy Defense Minister and Director of the GDP of the Lao People’s Army Senior Lieutenant General Thongloi Silivong.
Translated by Trung Thanh