Vietnamese Minister of Defence, General Phan Văn Giang, and Lao counterpart, General Chansamone Chanyalath, at the welcome ceremony for the Lao guest in Hà Nội on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Minister of National Defence, General Phan Văn Giang on Wednesday had talks with General Chansamone Chanyalath, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, after the welcome ceremony in Hà Nội.

Giang welcomed the high-level Lao delegation to Việt Nam for the official visit and attendance at the VIệt Nam International Defence Expo 2022.

Giang conveyed the greetings to his Lao counterpart on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of Laos’ National Day (December 2, 1975 – 2022), expressing the belief that Laos will complete the major socio-economic goals set out in the 11th National Party Congress.

General Chansamone Chanyalath said that this is his first official visit to Việt Nam since the 11th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, stressing that the visit aims to further the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including defence cooperation.

At the talks, the two sides agreed that in 2022, Vietnamese and Laos defence ministries have effectively coordinated and implemented a wide range of activities within the framework of the Việt Nam – Laos Friendship Year, which helps create a profound change in awareness in all classes of people and military, contributing to the strengthening and deepening of the special solidarity relationship between Việt Nam and Laos.T

The two sides have made great efforts, coordinated and successfully completed the 2022 Cooperation Plan, with many outstanding results in such areas as propaganda, delegation exchanges at all levels, defensive warfare, border coordination, management and protection, staff training and coaching, medical examination and treatment, etc.

In 2023, Việt Nam and Laos will focus on political works, logistics, engineering, defence industry, including the strengthening the relationship between the militaries of the three countries Việt Nam - Laos - Cambodia on the basis of the results of the meeting between the defence ministers of the three countries in September, and closely coordinate, support and assist the Lao side to successfully organise ASEAN military-defence conferences.

At the end of the talks, General Giang and General Chansamone Chanyalath signed the 2023 Cooperation Plan, and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in legal work in the field of military and defence between the ministries’ legal departments. — VNS