Vietnam ready to help Laos build peacekeeping capacity: officer
Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien has affirmed that Vietnam is willing to help Laos improve its capacity for participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Laos’s Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Khamlieng Outhakaysone (R) receives Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien. (Photo: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA)🌸 – Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien has affirmed that Vietnam is willing to help Laos improve its capacity for participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Chien made the statement at his meetings in Vientiane on January 9 with Laos’s Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Khamlieng Outhakaysone and Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Vongkham Phommakone on the occasion of accompanying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the 47th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.
At the meetings, both sides reaffirmed their desire to further strengthen and tighten the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, and armies. They agreed to implement the contents approved by the Ministries of Defence in the 2025 cooperation plan.
Congratulating Khamlieng Outhakaysone on his appointment as Defence Minister, Chien expressed his belief that in his new position, the officer will lead the Lao People's Army to further development, and the cooperative relationship between the two armed forces will grow stronger.
Informing the Lao minister about the outcomes of his meeting with Deputy Minister Vongkham Phommakone, Chien emphasised that the two ministries have identified key areas of cooperation for 2025. Accordingly, they will continue to exchange all-level delegations, maintaining the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms such as the Vietnam-Laos Defence Policy Dialogue and the Young Officers Exchange Programme, and promoting cooperation in UN peacekeeping efforts.
Earlier, at the meeting between the two deputy ministers, both sides agreed to instruct their respective agencies and units to closely coordinate in implementing the contents of the Protocol on Vietnam-Laos Defence Cooperation for the 2025-2029 period, the 2025 Cooperation Plan, and mutual perceptions reached by the high-ranking leaders of the two countries.
Chien noted that the Vietnamese Defence Ministry supports and is ready to exchange working and specialised delegations to provide advice on preparing and deploying forces, and assist in training and capacity building, helping Laos join UN peacekeeping operations.
He took this occasion to express the hope that the Ministry of National Defence and the Government of Laos will pay more attention to and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises, including those of the military, to invest in Laos in fields such as information technology, digital transformation, postal services, construction, and mining./.
A multiple of substantive measures were sketched out to deepen the Vietnam – Laos relations at the 47th meeting of the two countries’ intergovernmental committee for bilateral cooperation held in Vientiane on January 9 under the co-chair of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone.
Vietnam and Laos will formalise a bilateral cooperation plan for 2025 during the 47th meeting of the countries' Intergovernmental Committee for bilateral cooperation, to be held in Vientiane on January 9 under the co-chair of their Prime Ministers.
At the invitation of Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh along with a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Government, visit Laos and co-chair the 47th Meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee on January 9-10, 2025.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
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Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
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