Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc receives Sen Lt Gen Suvon Luongbunmi, Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army, in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam and Laos should step up joint activities between their armies and security forces to maintain peace, security, order and friendship along the border as the two share a long borderline which mainly traverses mountainous and disadvantaged areas. 

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc made the suggestion while hosting a reception for Sen Lt Gen Suvon Luongbunmi, Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army, in Hà Nội yesterday.

Aside from efforts to improve border residents’ living standards, the two armies also need to bolster ties in the fight against human trafficking and drug crimes, as well as in personnel training, he added.

The PM voiced his belief that the relationship between the armies will fortify the trust between the two Parties, States, and peoples while ensuring peace, stability and political security for each country.

He highlighted the tight ties between the two Parties, States, armies and peoples, noting that throughout history, the Vietnamese army and people have stood side by side with their Lao counterparts. 

Sen Lt Gen Luongbunmi, who is on an official visit to Việt Nam, briefed his host about the outcomes of his talks with Sen Lt Gen Phan Văn Giang, Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Việt Nam People’s Army. 

The two sides reviewed co-operation in 2017 and discussed plans for this year and beyond, he said, highlighting that the two defence ministries worked together in all aspects last year. Notably, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence has helped the Lao army build forces, greatly contributing to the development of Laos. 

The two sides also carried out joint activities to improve living standards of residents in their countries’ border areas, which has been supported by Vietnamese and Lao people, he noted. 

In the future, they plan to increase collaboration in personnel training and building the Việt Nam-Laos boundary into a border of stability and comprehensive development, the officer said.

Support continued in science

On Monday Phúc also made the statement to Lao Minister of Science and Technology and Chairman of the Lao National Scientific Institute Boviengkham Vongdara that Việt Nam would create more favourable conditions for Laos to conduct scientific research in Việt Nam and partner with Vietnamese scientists and experts to contribute to Lao socio-economic development. 

Phúc said during the 40th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee, both sides agreed on the 2018 co-operation programme and directed ministries and localities to realise it to achieve goals set by the two governments. 

He said Việt Nam was paying attention to improving the capacity of science-technology staff and infrastructure for scientific studies, including basic and applied sciences. 

The PM lauded ties between the Việt Nam Academy of Science and Technology and the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology in general, and the Lao National Scientific Institute in particular, especially the outcomes of the first stage of the official development assistance-funded project ‘Strengthening scientific study capacity and technology for the Lao National Scientific Institute’. 

The host asked both sides to continue studying technologies used for Lao socio-economic development and implementing research on mitigating the impacts of natural disasters in the two countries. 

Vongdara, for his part, expressed desire to continue receiving support from the Vietnamese PM and agencies in the implementation of the project, making important contributions to improving research capacity of the Lao National Scientific Institute. — VNS