Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (R) meets Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Tea Banh in Hà Nội on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Tea Banh, and Lao Minister of National Defence Chansamone Channhalat in Hà Nội on Thursday.

PM Phúc welcomed the two ministers’ visits to Việt Nam and attendance at the 75th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944).
The PM said Việt Nam, Laos, and Cambodia are three neighbouring countries with shared border lines, adding that the nations are also members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In the past, the trilateral relations have been continuously consolidated and developed in various fields based on the respect for each country’s independence, self-reliance, sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality, and mutual benefits, he said.
The effective implementation of the development triangle cooperation programme linking the Central Highlands of Việt Nam, the northeast of Cambodia, and the southeast of Laos has helped improve lives of local people and ensure political stability, security, and defence in the respective countries, PM Phúc said.
In the context of complicated and unpredictable developments in the region and the world, the three countries are affected by common challenges such as cross-border crime, drug crime, human trafficking, free emigration, trans-national smuggling, and particularly the destruction of hostile forces, he added.
The three nations should enhance cooperation, especially in defence and security to maintain a peaceful and stable environment in each country and the region at large, PM Phúc suggested.
Tea Banh informed the Vietnamese PM about the good outcomes of a joint rescue drill at a border area in Việt Nam’s Long An Province and Cambodia’s Svay Rieng Province. 

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (R) meets Lao Minister of National Defence Chansamone Channhalat in Hà Nội on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

Chansamone Channhalat said Laos will support Việt Nam to fulfill important external tasks in 2020, including the role of ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-21.

They are not historical events of Việt Nam but of the three Indochinese countries, he said.
The minister noted that Laos will host activities later this month to mark the 70th anniversary of the traditional day of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos (October 30) to express deep gratitude to them.
PM Phúc highly appreciated the three countries’ defence ministries for actively supporting each other at regional and international forums, especially at the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM+.

Myanmar defence chief visit

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Defence Services, in Hà Nội on Thursday, during which she affirmed that Vietnamese leaders always back stronger cooperation between the two countries’ armies.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is on an official visit to Việt Nam from December 18-22 at the invitation of the General Staff of the Việt Nam People’s Army.

Sen. Lt. Gen. Phan Văn Giang, Chief of General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of Defence (left) and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar Defence Services review the guard of honour at a welcome ceremony in Hà Nội on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

NA Chairwoman Ngân urged Vietnamese and Myanmar military leaders to instruct relevant agencies to work out suitable forms and measures for the more comprehensive and effective implementation of bilateral cooperation agreements in defence.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said there is a plenty of room for cooperation between Việt Nam and Myanmar, repeating the proposal of transporting goods by road through Laos instead of by sea to shorten the distance and time.
He asked Chairwoman Ngân to pay more attention to encouraging Vietnamese businesses to invest in Myanmar.

Earlier the same day, Min Aung Hlaing had a meeting with Defence Minister General Ngô Xuân Lịch during which he affirmed to do his utmost to promote traditional relations between the two countries and armies for the sake of the two peoples.
Minister Lịch said that Việt Nam and Myanmar have effectively carried out multilateral and bilateral agreements, and expanded cooperation in the fields of training, communications, military medicine, and exchange of young officers. He described Telecom International Myanmar, a joint venture between the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group, Myanmar military and several partners, as a highlight in the cooperative ties.
Sen. Lt. Gen. Phan Văn Giang, Chief of General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of Defence, hosted a welcome ceremony for, and held talks with Min Aung Hlaing yesterday, during which he said the latter’s visit will contribute to developing the traditional friendship between the two armies and the two countries as a whole in a more result-oriented and effective manner.
Both countries have enjoyed a sound friendship, which has been treasured by generations of leaders and peoples, Giang said, underlining Việt Nam always attaches importance to deepening the ties with Myanmar for the benefit of both peoples as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development of the ASEAN Community and the world.
Giang and his Myanmar guest said that military cooperation has been unceasingly developed, with positive results seen in delegation exchanges, language training and medical medicine.
In the future, both sides will continue carrying out their cooperative agreements, promoting the efficiency of the joint working group, as well as accelerating the organisation of the first defence policy dialogue.
Regarding multilateral cooperation, they agreed to support each other at multilateral forums and issues of mutual interest, particularly at regional defence-military cooperative mechanisms such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plus. — VNS