Vietnam, Laos seek to further boost defence cooperation

During their talks, the two ministers affirmed that Vietnam and Laos always attach great importance to their great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

Lich affirmed that Vietnam is ready to continue sharing experience with and supporting Laos to effectively address impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as help the Lao People's Army improve its capacity.

For his part, Chansamone highlighted the significance of the talks, saying that this has contributed to show the trust, activeness and timely sharing of information about the situation between the two sides in order to reach a common view on responding to COVID-19.

He thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence and units of the Vietnamese army for supporting the Lao army, especially in providing support and medical supplies to help Laos in the fight against COVID-19.

The Lao minister congratulated Vietnam on its successful organisation of military-defence meetings as the country assumes its role as Chair of ASEAN in 2020.

The two ministers held that defence cooperation is an important pillar in the bilateral relations, and it has contributed to maintaining defence-security stability and promoting socio-economic development in each country.

Amid difficulties caused by the COVI-19 crisis, the two ministries have effectively deployed contents of the cooperation plan in 2020, promptly assisted each other and share experience in preventing the disease, demonstrating their determination, proactiveness, and flexibility to control the pandemic.

In the time to come, the two sides will coordinate to review and promptly direct agencies of the two ministries to well implement cooperation agreements reached by senior leaders of the two Parties and States as well as the cooperation plan between the two ministries.

They will also take measures to improve effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms, especially the deputy ministerial-level defence policy exchange, border management and protection, transnational crime prevention, and combating smuggling and drug trafficking crime, and illegal immigration.

The two sides affirmed mutual support at multilateral defense cooperation forums within the framework of ASEAN as well as in mechanisms in which ASEAN plays a central role.

Chansamone affirmed that the Lao Defence Ministry will continue to support and coordinate closely with Vietnam to successfully take over its role as Chair of ASEAN 2020 and organise the ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces, the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), and ADMM Plus (ADMM).