On December 14, for the first time, the Defense Ministries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia held an exchange at the common border area of the three countries. The event contributed to promoting people-to-people exchanges, further enhancing the traditional relationship, solidarity, friendship and closeness between the three neighboring countries.
From early morning on December 14, a bustling atmosphere filled with solidarity and friendship filled the border areas of the three countries (Kon Tum province/Vietnam, Attapeu province/Laos and Ratanakiri province/Cambodia), Ngoc Hoi district and Kon Tum city (Kon Tum province). Vietnamese, Lao and Cambodian flags along with banners and billboards in Vietnamese, Lao and Khmer welcomed the first Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia
Border Defense Friendship Exchange . To the sound of military music, people joyfully waved flags and flowers to welcome the Vietnamese delegation led by General Phan Van Giang, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense; the Lao delegation led by General Chansamone Chanyalath, Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense; and the Cambodian delegation led by General Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense.
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| Defense Ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia plant a friendship tree at the border junction landmark on December 14, 2023. (Photo: Manh Hung) |
At the border marker area of the three countries, the three ministers saluted and painted the sovereignty marker, and planted a friendship tree. Also here, the border protection forces of the three countries coordinated to patrol and inspect the border marker. This was an opportunity for the people of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to commemorate the contributions of previous generations who fell, dedicating their youth to the cause of national liberation, unification and protection of the Fatherland, while contributing to raising awareness and responsibility of the people to join hands in building a border of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and development. "The border marker of the three countries has now become a milestone of history, a milestone of friendship between neighboring countries with the same determination to build a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and prosperous development", General Phan Van Giang emphasized. On the same day, at the Bo Y international border toll station intersection, after watching the three countries' armies organize a joint military medical exercise, the three ministers attended the inauguration ceremony of the Ta Ka village Cultural House, visited and presented gifts to Be Van Dan Primary School (Po Y commune, Ngoc Hoi district).
Continue writing a new page of friendship
At the annual meeting of the
Defense Ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, General Phan Van Giang said: The first Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia border defense friendship exchange is an event of historical significance, contributing to writing new pages of the history of the traditional friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the three countries. The success of the exchange will create new momentum, further promoting political trust, cooperation between the three countries' armies in general, and substantive cooperation between the three countries' border protection forces in particular. At the same time, it will contribute to promoting economic development and people-to-people exchange between the three countries in the border area.
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| Medical forces from three countries practice receiving and rescuing victims. (Photo: Manh Hung) |
He emphasized that through the exchange activities, the message of solidarity, friendship and mutual support among the three countries has been conveyed, while affirming the importance of maintaining and consolidating a peaceful, stable, friendly, cooperative and developing border in the task of ensuring national defense and security, promoting socio-economic development of each country. The diverse and rich activities within the framework of the exchange will help the border protection forces and people of the three countries understand and further enhance their awareness and responsibility in preserving and protecting the border, contributing to fostering the relationship between the border localities of the three countries in particular and the overall relationship between the three countries in general; creating more consensus and trust in the guidelines, lines and policies of the Party and State of the three countries. According to General Chansamone Chanyalath, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are three countries that share a border, a common destiny, and the people of the three countries have a tradition of helping each other, standing side by side to fight against the common enemy. Regardless of conditions, circumstances, space, or time, the three countries cannot be separated from each other. Therefore, the three countries' armies must be the core force in building, preserving, protecting, and developing the precious friendship and solidarity between the three countries. General Tea Seiha highly appreciated the effective cooperation between the three countries' armies on the basis of mutual respect and trust, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the border areas as well as contributing to the building of the ASEAN Community. The three countries' defense ministers agreed to focus on consolidating the foundation of political trust, increasing contacts and exchanges of high-level delegations; continuing to effectively implement mechanisms such as: Annual meetings between the three countries' defense ministers, defense policy dialogues at the deputy minister level, and increasing high-level contacts on the sidelines of multilateral events and forums. Propagating and educating the Army and people, especially the young generation of the three countries, about the history, significance and importance of the solidarity of the three countries and the three Armies, especially in 2024 on the occasion of the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Army and the 45th anniversary of the victory over the genocide regime. Along with that, continue to diversify cooperation activities between the Ministry of National Defense and the Armies of the three countries, prioritizing areas such as: Exchange and cooperation between border protection forces, border military regions, armies and services of the three countries through practical cooperation mechanisms such as joint patrols, exchange of experiences in border management and protection, and combating transnational crimes. Strengthen mutual language training between units stationed in border areas; organize joint activities between the Armies of the three countries to effectively respond to non-traditional security challenges. Continue to support each other at international and regional multilateral forums, especially ASEAN mechanisms such as the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+); support the Lao Ministry of National Defense to successfully assume the role of Chair of ASEAN military and defense conferences in 2024.
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