On the afternoon of July 2, Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence held a press briefing to introduce the third Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange.
Colonel Do Duy Chinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Information and Education under the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army, said the event will take place on July 9 and 10 in Nghe An Province and Bolikhamxai Province in Laos.
The Vietnamese delegation will be led by General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence. The Lao delegation will be headed by General Khamliang Outhakaysone, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence.
Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence introduces the third Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange. Photo by Minh Nhat
The exchange is one of the key defense diplomacy activities between the two ministries. It aims to strengthen political trust, deepen friendship and solidarity, and promote practical cooperation among border protection forces, local authorities and communities on both sides of the border. The initiative also contributes to building a peaceful, friendly, stable and cooperative Vietnam-Laos border.
Lieutenant Colonel Bui Van Manh, Head of the Southeast Asia Division under the Ministry's Department of Foreign Relations, said this year's exchange coincides with the 49th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. He said the event continues to demonstrate an effective and distinctive model of cooperation between the two countries. The exchange also carries important political significance by translating the shared understanding reached by senior leaders of the two Parties and the two countries into more practical defense cooperation.
Activities in Laos are expected to include a welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation at Border Marker 460, a border marker maintenance ceremony, the planting of friendship trees near the marker on the Lao side, the groundbreaking ceremony for a coordination station at Border Company 252 funded by Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence, visits with gifts and scholarships for students at a primary school in Xaychamphone District, Bolikhamxai Province, as well as medical consultations, free medicine distribution and the donation of breeding cattle to disadvantaged households in border communities.
Activities in Vietnam will include a welcoming ceremony for the Lao delegation at Border Marker 460, friendship tree planting, a visit with gifts to Thanh Thuy Border Guard Station, attendance at a review ceremony for the twinning program between border residential communities, cultural and sports exchanges involving residents from both countries, the donation of breeding cattle to disadvantaged households in Vietnam's border areas, the groundbreaking ceremony for a kindergarten funded by Vietnam's Ministry of National Defence, a visit to the Kim Lien Special National Relic Site, talks between the two delegations and a farewell ceremony for the Lao delegation at Thanh Thuy Border Gate.
General Phan Van Giang met General Khamliang Outhakaysone in June. Photo: Ministry of National Defence Portal
Lieutenant Colonel Bui Van Manh said Thanh Thuy Border Gate in Nghe An Province and Nam On Border Gate in Bolikhamxai Province were selected because they form part of the planned Hanoi-Vientiane Expressway, a strategic project expected to deliver major political, economic and defense benefits for both countries. Once completed, the transport corridor will help provide Laos with improved access to the sea.
The two deputy prime ministers and defense ministers will also witness a review ceremony for the border community twinning program, participate in cultural and sports exchanges with local residents from both countries, and present breeding cattle to disadvantaged households.
One of the highlights of the visit will be the joint trip to the Kim Lien Special National Relic Site in Nam Dan District, Nghe An Province, where the two leaders will offer incense in tribute to the generations of leaders who laid the foundation for the enduring relationship between Vietnam and Laos.
Vietnamnet.vn
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