Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese and Lao defenceministries will work to comprehensively implement their cooperation plan in 2022,as agreed by their deputy ministers on June 2.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, DeputyDefence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, and Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone, Deputy Defence Minister andChief of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army, reached the consensusduring their talks in Hanoi as part of the Lao officer’s visit to Vietnam fromJune 1 to 4.

Cuong stressed that Khamliang Outhakaysone’s visit, which takes place in the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship and SolidarityYear 2022, will be a driving force for cooperation between the two armies,contributing to consolidating and enhancing the great friendship, specialsolidarity and comprehensive collaboration between the two countries, forpeace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world atlarge.

For his part, Khamliang Outhakaysone said Laosalways highly values the time-honored friendship and comprehensive cooperation,and expressed his belief that it will help to fight challenges and plots thataim to undermine the bilateral relationship.

They shared the view that defence cooperationremains a pillar in the Vietnam-Laos relationship, with regular meetings andvisits, and the effective implementation of collaboration mechanisms.

The two sides spoke of the first Vietnam-Laos BorderDefence Friendship Exchange last December, along with partnerships betweenmilitary zones and border guards.

Joint efforts have been made in the combat againstcross-border crimes, contributing to building a shared borderline of peace,friendship, cooperation and development, they said.

They held that the mutual support of medicalequipment in the COVID-19 fight vividly demonstrates the solidarity between thetwo armies.

Regarding cooperation orientations, the two sidesagreed to step up information sharing between their border guards, conduct morejoint patrols and continue to coordinate in the fight against crimes and illegalmigration, and ensuring security and safety in border areas.

They will also pay more attention to cooperation inpersonnel training and the information work.

On this occasion, Cuong invited Lao officers toattend the first international defence exhibition in Vietnam, the ASEAN Chiefsof Army Multilateral Meeting and the ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet in the time ahead.

Following the talks, Khamliang Outhakaysone paid acourtesy visit to Defence Minister General Phan Van Giang, who said thebilateral defence cooperation has been deepened across spheres.

The Vietnamese Defence Ministry hopes for stronger multi-facetedcooperation between the two sides, the General noted.   

Khamliang Outhakaysone told his host that theGeneral Staff of the Lao People's Army has made efforts to contribute topreserving and promoting the special relations between the two countries andarmies./.