The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Military Zone 5 High Command, after a welcome ceremony was held for Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh who is on his four-day visit to Vietnam, starting January 8.

At the talks, the two ministers were pleased with outcomes of bilateral military cooperation last year, particularly in delegation exchanges, personnel training and border safeguard.

Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich expressed his appreciation toward Cambodia’s support for Vietnam in searching and repatriating remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts.

Tea Banh said Cambodia is always thankful for Vietnam’s assistance during its struggle against the Khmer Rouge and the current national construction cause.

Both sides agreed to work closely in organising communications campaigns and education activities for mutual understanding as part of celebration of the 50-year relations between Vietnam and Cambodia.

These events include a writing contest and the upgrade of six friendship monuments in Cambodia.

In 2017, Cambodia will run commune/ward elections, thus strong information liaison with Vietnam is necessary.

The two ministers emphasised that priorities of defence cooperation this year and the following years would be the organisation of delegation exchanges, deputy ministerial level-defence policy dialogues, join marine patrols, border work, and search for Vietnamese martyrs.

At the function, they witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnam Institute for Military Strategy and Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies.

Vietnamese, Lao defence ministers sign 2017 cooperation deal

Defence Minister, Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich and his Lao counterpart, Sen. Lieut. Gen Chansamone Channhalat signed a cooperation agreement for 2017 during their talks in the central city of Da Nang on January 9. 

Hailing defence cooperation as one of the crucial pillars in bilateral ties, the two ministers pledged to heed practical efficiency of personnel training, facilitate all-level visits, and hold consultation on deputy ministerial-level defence policy, border defence exchanges and the first meeting in Vientiane for Lao military officers who once studied in Vietnam. 

They agreed to increase the sharing of experience in Party and political activities, jointly hold celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, including completing the construction of the monument “Vietnam-Laos Fighting Alliance and Unity” in the Lao province of Xaisomboun. 

Host and guest also reached a consensus on enhancing information sharing, fighting the smuggling of addictive substances and forestry products across the border, and removing hotbeds of security and order in border areas. 

Both sides shared view that the two defence ministries’ units fulfilled goals set in the protocol and cooperation plan last year, including raising public awareness of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, armies and peoples as well as successfully organising a photo exhibition on the west Truong Son trail in Vientiane capital city and Savannakhet province. 

Positive results were seen in military personnel training, liaison among border units and twinning models among localities, which have contributed to political security, social safety and order, and economic development in border areas. 

In multilateral cooperation, the two countries worked closely together to maintain unity in ASEAN and improve their stature. 

During their official visit to Vietnam from January 8-11, the Lao delegation paid a courtesy call to authorities of central Da Nang city and visited several local attractions.

VNA