High-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense visits Laos

A high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense led by General Phung Quang Thanh, Politburo member and Minister, paid a friendly visit to Laos from January 5-7, at the invitation of Lao Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Douangchay Phichith.

Minister Douangchay Phichith welcomed Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh. Photo: Vietnam+

On the morning of January 6, after the official welcoming ceremony at the Lao Ministry of National Defense, the two Ministers held talks.

Minister Douangchay Phichith warmly welcomed the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to Laos in the context that the two countries are preparing to celebrate major national and military holidays in 2014, demonstrating the special brotherly affection between Laos and Vietnam.

The General sincerely thanked the Party, Government, people and People's Army of Vietnam for their practical assistance to Laos in general and the Lao People's Army in particular in recent times.

The General emphasized that together with the entire Party and people, the Lao People's Army is willing to stand side by side with the fraternal Vietnam People's Army, determined to preserve and foster the special Laos-Vietnam relationship for sustainable development for today and future generations; affirming that the Delegation's visit will greatly contribute to preserving and further strengthening the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

For his part, Minister Phung Quang Thanh sincerely thanked the Lao Ministry of National Defense for the warm, thoughtful, and fraternal welcome given to the delegation. The Minister congratulated the Lao people on their achievements in recent times; congratulated the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Army and expressed his belief that in the new stage of the revolution, the Lao People's Army will successfully fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party and the people.

The Minister affirmed that the Party, State, people and People's Army of Vietnam, together with the Party, State, people and People's Army of Laos, will make every effort to preserve, nurture and develop the special relationship between the two countries, contributing to protecting peace and stability in the region and the world.

The two Ministers expressed satisfaction with the results of practical cooperation in many fields between the two countries' armies in recent times, and agreed that in the coming time, the two sides will continue to strengthen in-depth cooperation in fields such as training, information experience exchange, delegation exchange at all levels, coordinate to promote the search, collection, and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos over the years; promote the construction of a friendly and sustainable border...

The two Ministers also informed each other about the socio-economic situation as well as the activities of the Ministry of National Defense of each country and many important issues of mutual concern. On this occasion, the two sides signed the 2014 Cooperation Plan.

During their visit to Laos, the Delegation visited the 1st Mechanized Infantry Regiment of the Lao People's Army.

According to VNA