Signing of Protocol on Vietnam - Laos Defense Cooperation for the period 2025-2029

Within the framework of the 2nd Vietnam - Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange in Moc Chau district (Son La province), General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, held talks with General Chansamone Chanyalath, Politburo member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of Laos.

At the talks, General Phan Van Giang emphasized that 2024 will witness many important events in the cooperative relationship between the two countries and the two armies, typically: the high-level meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; mutual visits by senior leaders of the two countries; activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Army, the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, and the upcoming 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army...

General Phan Van Giang and members of the Vietnamese delegation at the talks.

General Chansamone Chanyalath and members of the Lao delegation at the talks.

General Phan Van Giang affirmed that after 5 years of implementing the Protocol on Defense Cooperation for the 2020-2024 period, the two sides have achieved many important and substantive results, with many areas exceeding the set targets.

Political and strategic trust is higher, solidarity and close ties between the two armies are increasingly consolidated. The two sides closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums, mechanisms and international events organized by each side, especially during Vietnam's ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 and Laos' ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2024.

Cooperation forms and mechanisms are increasingly diverse and widespread. Many historic and first-time defense diplomacy events are being held, such as the first Vietnam-Laos border defense friendship exchange (2021), the first Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia border defense friendship exchange (2023), etc.

The Deputy Ministerial Defense Policy Dialogue mechanism has played an important role in exchanging and sharing views on strategic issues, promptly orienting priorities and focuses of cooperation. Security and order in the border areas of the two countries have been increasingly consolidated. Cooperation in human resource training has been increasingly valued. Cooperation in defense industry and defense economy has become more focused, important and effective...

General Chansamone Chanyalath highly appreciated the preparations for the second Vietnam - Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange; emphasizing that this exchange continues to affirm itself as an effective and unique cooperation model between the two countries, and at the same time is an activity of profound political significance, demonstrating the political determination of the Party, State, Army, localities, especially the people and border protection forces of Vietnam and Laos in strengthening solidarity and friendship, promoting substantive cooperation to build a peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developed border, for the prosperity of each country, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

General Phan Van Giang and General Chansamone Chanyalath signed a cooperation agreement between the two countries' Defense Ministries.

In the coming time, the two Ministers agreed to focus on a number of key cooperation contents. First of all, to strengthen cooperation in Party and political work, focusing on effective propaganda and education about the history, significance and importance of the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos, especially major events of the two countries and the two armies.

Along with that, it is necessary to effectively maintain existing cooperation mechanisms, such as annual high-level delegation exchanges, Deputy Ministerial-level Defense Policy Dialogue, regular cooperation between agencies and units of the two sides; enhance effective cooperation in military and defense, especially in responding to non-traditional security challenges; cooperate in managing and protecting borders and landmarks; cooperate in training human resources; and improve the effectiveness of mutual support work.

In particular, the Lao Government and Ministry of National Defense continue to create favorable conditions for searching, collecting, and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos during the war.

At the end of the talks, General Phan Van Giang and General Chansamone Chanyalath signed the Protocol on Defense Cooperation for the 2025-2029 period and the Cooperation Plan for 2025.

Tra Khanh

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/ky-nghi-dinh-thu-ve-hop-tac-quoc-phong-viet-nam-lao-giai-doan-2025-2029-ar903257.html