Laos, Vietnam boost defence cooperation

Minister of National Defence General Phung Quang Thanh held talks with his Lao counterpart Senior Lieutenant General Sengnuon Saynhalat in Hanoi on September 16.

Both ministers compared notes on regional and global issues, reviewed the results of their cooperation and proposed measures to propel defence ties between the two nations forward.

Minister Sengnuon Saynhalat is heading the high-level military delegation to Vietnam from September 15-20, with the aim of boosting bilateral defence cooperation and the traditional friendship and solidarity between two armies and peoples.

The Lao delegation is scheduled to meet President Truong Tan Sang and visit the High Command of Air Defence and Air Force and other military units.

President Sang welcomes Lao defence official 

President Truong Tan Sang on September 16 received Lao Defence Minister Sengnuon Saynhalat who is on a working visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnam Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh.

Saynhalat expressed pleasure at his first visit to Vietnam in his capacity as Lao Defence Minister, saying that his visit aims to tighten defence cooperation between the two nations.

Host and guest shared army building experience and information about the East Sea situation. The Lao delegation visited a number of military units and defense economic zone of Vietnam during which Defense Minister Saynhalat hailed the Vietnam People’s Army’s readiness to cope with every situation with high fighting spirit.

The Lao defence official thanked Vietnam for its valuable assistance given to the Lao people during their past struggle for national protection and the ongoing nation-building process.

He said his nation will do its utmost to preserve and develop the Vietnam-Laos friendly relations and special comprehensive cooperation.

President Sang for his part, suggested the two countries devise effective measures aimed at properly carrying out signed agreements and intensifying reciprocal visit exchange to bring bilateral ties to a higher level.

NA Chairman meets with Lao President

Vietnam always gives top priority to consolidating and strengthening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos.

He expressed his pleasure with the continuously developing relationship between Vietnam and Laos, with the regular exchange of all-level visits, especially that by President Choummaly Sayasone.

Economic-trade and investment cooperation programmes have proven effective, making last year’s two-way trade exceed US$ 1 billion for the first time, he said, adding that Vietnam remained one of the largest investors in Laos.

Bilateral collaboration in other fields such as security-defence, education-training and local cooperation has remarkably contributed to consolidating, developing and deepening the two countries’ relations, he added.

Vietnam is willing to share legislative experience with Laos, said Chairman Hung, who hoped that the two sides will increase popularisation and education for people, particularly young generations, about the traditional ties between Vietnam and Laos.

For his part, President Choummaly Sayasone congratulated Vietnam on its recent socio-economic development and renewal achievements and expressed belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people will successfully implement objectives set by the 11th National Party Congress.

He thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their great and valuable support and assistance for Laos over the past time.

He said he believes that the active participation of the Vietnamese NA delegation will contribute to the success of the 35th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-35).