The State leader made the statement on the sidelines of a Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia security ministerial meeting held in Ho Chi Minh City on April 20 while meeting Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Le Hong Anh; Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Khenh; and Lao Minister of Security Thongbanh Sengaphone. He congratulated them on the success of the first ever meeting of its kind.

Mr Triet pointed out numerous difficulties facing the three countries as reactionary forces are still sparing no effort to sabotage friendship and solidarity and cause social disorder in the three countries.

“The three nations therefore need to unite and trust each other in order to strengthen cooperation and mutual assistance in national defence for the sake of peace, stability and development in the region,” the State leader emphasised.

He reaffirmed Vietnam’s constant efforts to strengthen relations with its “best friends of Laos and Cambodia” as an important part of its external policy.

In reply, the three ministers briefed Mr Triet on the security meeting success, which culminated in the signing of a joint statement calling for stronger cooperation in the fight against crime, in order to ensure security and social order in each and every country as well as in the development triangle of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sar Khenh spoke highly of Vietnam’s strong growth and expressed his belief in the great success of its upcoming elections.