New Lao Defense Minister visits Vietnam for the first time, attends defense exhibition

On the morning of December 18, General Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defense, chaired the welcoming ceremony and held talks with Senior Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone, Minister of National Defense of Laos, who is visiting Vietnam. On behalf of the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense, General Phan Van Giang congratulated Senior Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone on his recent appointment by the Lao Party and State as Minister of National Defense. The Vietnamese Minister of National Defense believes that in his position, the Lao Minister of National Defense will lead and direct the development of the Lao Army, promoting the close cooperation between the armies of Vietnam and Laos.

General Phan Van Giang welcomes Senior Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone

The two defense ministers exchanged views before attending the welcoming ceremony. General Phan Van Giang congratulated the Lao Ministry of Defense on successfully organizing the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting, the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus, and meetings between ASEAN and its partners, making important contributions to the success of the 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship, continuing to strengthen solidarity, the central role of ASEAN, and enhancing Laos' position in the international arena. The leaders of the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense thanked the Lao Defense Minister for accepting the invitation to attend the Vietnam International Defense Exhibition 2024, the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army and the 35th anniversary of the National Defense Day. Laos sent defense enterprises to participate in displaying and introducing products at the exhibition, thereby contributing to strengthening solidarity and contributing to the overall success of the event.

General Phan Van Giang presided over the welcoming ceremony for Senior Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone.

The two Defense Ministers reviewed the honor guard of the Vietnam People's Army.

The headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense was decorated to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army. Lao Defense Minister Khamliang Outhakaysone congratulated the Vietnam People's Army on its 80th anniversary. Senior Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone expressed his joy at witnessing the continuous growth of the Vietnam People's Army and believed that the Vietnam Army would continue to develop and grow. Senior Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone said that this was his first visit to Vietnam as Minister of National Defense, demonstrating the importance of developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. Vietnam-Laos defense cooperation has achieved great and substantive results in recent times, and is one of the important pillars of bilateral relations. After 5 years of implementing the Cooperation Decree for the 2020-2024 period between the two countries' Defense Ministries, the two sides have achieved important results.

The two countries' defense ministers introduced members of the two delegations at the welcoming ceremony. General Phan Van Giang said that political and strategic trust is higher, solidarity and closeness between the two armies are increasingly consolidated; forms and mechanisms of cooperation are increasingly diverse and widespread. Security and order in the border areas of the two countries are firmly consolidated; cooperation in human resource training is given more importance with an increase in both quality and quantity. The two countries' cooperation in building defense potential and defense industry is increasingly focused, key and effective. The two countries' defense ministries successfully organized a series of events for the second Vietnam - Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange in October, thereby creating a positive spillover effect on solidarity and mutual support between the two Parties, States, Armies, local authorities and people of the two countries.

Minister of Defense Phan Van Giang at the meeting.

Lao Defense Minister Khamliang Outhakaysone at the talks. Minister Phan Van Giang suggested that the two sides focus on effectively and comprehensively implementing the Protocol on Defense Cooperation for the 2025-2029 period and the 2025 Cooperation Plan. The two countries' militaries should increase delegation exchanges at all levels and cooperation mechanisms, especially the Defense Policy Dialogue mechanism; strengthen cooperation in Party work and political work. The two countries also need to strengthen multilateral cooperation, maintain the mechanism of the Annual Meeting between the three Defense Ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia; improve the quality of cooperation in training and human resource development; strengthen cooperation in border management and protection, etc.