Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Nguyễn Chí Vịnh and his Lao counterpart Lieut. Gen. Onsi Sensuk co-chaired the first Việt Nam–Laos defence policy exchange in Vientiane, Laos, on Thursday.  —  VNA/VNS Photo Xuân Tú

VIENTIANE — Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Nguyễn Chí Vịnh and his Lao counterpart Lieut. Gen. Onsi Sensuk co-chaired the first Việt Nam–Laos defence policy exchange in Vientiane, Laos, on Thursday. 

The two sides discussed the regional and global security-political situation and co-operation at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plus, reviewed the outcomes of defence collaboration and agreed on measures to boost partnerships.

They agreed to review co-operation contents of the protocol for 2015-19 and the co-operation plan in 2019 between the two defence ministries, co-ordination between border guards, information exchange, and personnel training.

Both sides vowed to effectively implement the protocol and the annual co-operation plan to deepen bilateral defence links, including raising young generations’ awareness about bilateral friendship and solidarity between the Vietnamese and Lao people and armies, as well as discussing strategic issues.

They said the annual deputy ministerial-level defence policy exchange is an important mechanism to reach consensus on strategic issues and plans for defence co-operation.

The two sides agreed to renew co-ordination between border guards such as search and rescue, drills against trans-border crimes, all-level border defence exchanges; step up twinning among localities and border army units; and support each other’s initiatives within multilateral mechanisms.

Later the same day, Vịnh met Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisulith and Minister of National Defence Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath.

The Lao leaders said the defence tie is a significant pillar in the friendship between the two Parties, States, armies and people.
They suggested seeking new co-operation fields and stressed that the Lao government, defence ministry and themselves will continue supporting stronger ties between the two defence ministries and army units of Laos and Việt Nam. — VNS