Vietnam treasures ties with Laos: Defence Minister
The Vietnamese Party, State and army always attach much importance to the relations with Laos, said Minister of National Defence Ngo Xuan Lich, who is visiting Laos from January 15-17.
Minister of National Defence Ngo Xuan Lich (L) and Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith. (Photo: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – The Vietnamese Party, State and army alwaysattach much importance to the relations with Laos, said Minister of National DefenceNgo Xuan Lich, who is visiting Laos from January 15-17.
In a meeting with Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachithon January 16, Lich informed the host of bilateral defence cooperation in 2017,saying the two sides gained more-than-expected achievements, especially incommunication work, training collaboration, delegation exchanges and bordermanagement.
The Lao leader, for his part, noted that the two countries have enjoyed specialdefence cooperation, affirming to direct the Lao Ministry of National Defenceto effectively implement cooperation agreements with the Vietnamese side.
He also took the occasion to thank Vietnam for its support for Laos during thecountry’s past national liberation and current socio-economic development.
Earlier, Lich held talks with his Lao counterpart Chansamone Chanyalath onJanuary 15.
At the event, he stressed that the Vietnamese military delegation’s visit toLaos is of great significance as it creates a new momentum to deepen relationsbetween the two defence ministries.
Lich and Chansamone Chanyalath agreed that communication and education workscarried out by the two ministries have raised awareness of officials, soldiersand people of the special traditional friendship between Vietnam and Laos.Meanwhile, cooperation between organisations in border areas was consolidated.
They affirmed that defence cooperation is billed as an important pillar in thebilateral relations. Bolstering coordination and surveillance of theimplementation of the cooperation plan in 2018 and many other agreements willbe focused as part of efforts to consolidate trust and comprehensivecooperation between the two Parties, Governments, armies and people.
The two ministers fficials reached consensus on enhancing exchange ofexperience and information to prevent and vanquish conspiracies of hostileforces while paying due attention to exchanges at provincial level.
After the talks, they inked defence a cooperation plan between the two defenceministries for 2018.-VNA
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Minister of National Defence Ngo Xuan Lich (L) and Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachith. (Photo: VNA) 
