The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Defense Minister Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Gau while the Lao delegation was led by Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs Sr. Lt. Gen. Vongsone Inpanphim.
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Delegates attend the meeting. |
At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the implementation of the agreements reached in the minutes of the 30th meeting and discussed directions and priorities for cooperation during the 2026–2027 dry season. They agreed that the search, collection, and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military advisors who sacrificed their lives in Laos had been carried out in a coordinated and effective manner. During the 2025–2026 dry season, Vietnamese search and collection teams located and recovered the remains of 173 fallen soldiers.
The Lao side continued to provide extensive support and assistance to Vietnamese recovery teams in all aspects of their operations, while actively conducting dissemination campaigns to encourage people to provide information on the burial sites of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors in Laos in wartime.
Both sides also agreed to further strengthen coordination, intensify public awareness and information dissemination, and encourage people in both countries to provide information on fallen soldiers and their burial sites, thereby improving the effectiveness of future search, collection, and repatriation efforts.
Regarding cooperation priorities for the 2026–2027 dry season, the two sides agreed to continue coordinating and directing the search, collection, and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors who sacrificed their lives in Laos during the wars until no further information on their burial sites remains. They also agreed to intensify public information campaigns and encourage people in both countries to provide information on fallen soldiers and their graves.
The two countries' Special Working Groups and provincial-level Military Commands will maintain regular exchanges, share lessons learned, and focus on accelerating search and collection operations in their respective areas. They will also strengthen joint inspections and assessments of operational results.
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Representatives of the two sides sign the minutes of the 31st meeting. |
The two sides also agreed to work closely in directing relevant agencies and local authorities to properly manage and utilize newly-built, restored, and renovated Vietnam - Laos Solidarity and Alliance in Combat Monuments in accordance with the laws of the respective countries and Lao customs and traditions. They will continue promoting awareness of the solidarity between the two militaries and peoples, while ensuring favorable arrangements for domestic and international delegations visiting these monuments. These efforts will further strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, the two States, and the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos.
At the meeting, under the authorization of the Prime Minister of Vietnam, the head of the Vietnamese delegation presented the 2026 financial assistance from the Government of Vietnam to the Laos Special Working Group and relevant Lao localities.
Translated by Quynh Oanh