Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachith lauded the cooperation between the Lao and Vietnamese defence ministries and wants this relationship to be enhanced.

Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachith (L) and Vietnamese Politburo member and Defence Minister, General Ngo Xuan Lich.

He made the remarks while meeting with Vietnamese Politburo member and Defence Minister, General Ngo Xuan Lich, in Vientiane on May 23. Lich is making an official visit to Laos and attending the 10th ASEAN Defence Minister’ Meeting (ADMM-10) there from May 23 – 26.

The Lao leader congratulated Vietnam on the successful election of deputies to the 14th National Assembly and all-level People's Councils last weekend.

He said stronger cooperation between the two defence ministries will consolidate the relationship between the Lao and Vietnamese Parties, States and peoples.

During his meeting with Bounnhang Vorachith, Minister Lich reported on the cooperation between the defence ministries. He also briefed the host on talks between the ministries held earlier the same day.

Hailing the success of Laos’s 10th National Party Congress, the Vietnamese officer expressed his belief that under Bounnhang Vorachith and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the country would develop further and promote the time-honoured relationship between the two Parties, States, armies and peoples.

Earlier on May 23, General Ngo Xuan Lich held talks with his Lao counterpart Chansamone Chanyalath following the official welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese Defence Minister at the Lao Ministry of National Defence’s headquarters.

Both ministers applauded the Vietnam – Laos defence partnership and agreed that their armies should foster cooperation and maintain defence relations as a pillar in bilateral ties.

They agreed that the two ministries will accelerate the search for and repatriation of remains of Vietnam’s soldiers who died in Laos.

The officers decided to regularly exchange information and strategies in a timely fashion.

They will reinforce community-based defence and security by developing defence – economic zones and push ahead with the cooperation programme on ensuring stability and development along the Vietnam – Laos border.

Lich also took this occasion to acknowledge Laos’ assistance to Vietnam in tackling the historic drought in the Mekong Delta.

He voiced his belief that the ADMM-10 in Vientiane will be a success and boost Laos’s standing in ASEAN and the world.

VNA