Vietnam beefs up defence cooperation with Laos, Cambodia

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien receives Colonel Vongxay Inthakham, Defence Attaché of Laos to Vietnam. (Photo: dangcongsan.vn)

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien hosted separate receptions in Hanoi on March 20 for Colonel Vongxay Inthakham, Defence Attaché of Laos to Vietnam, and Colonel Rem Kann, Military Attaché of Cambodia to Vietnam.

Receiving Vongxay, Chien highly valued the close coordination between the two Ministries of National Defence in organising activities during the “Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity Year 2022”.

On the foundation of its cooperation plan for 2023, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence has assigned specific tasks to agencies and units in strengthening collaboration with their Lao peers, he said, noting that the partnership has been fruitful so far.

For his part, Vongxay expressed his delight at the development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam over the years, including defence collaboration.

He affirmed that in his role, he will work hard to implement activities and tasks for 2023, contributing to promoting the defence ties between the two countries.

Receiving Rem Kann, Chien spoke highly of the Cambodian official’s efforts to coordinate with agencies and units of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence in effectively implementing bilateral defence cooperation activities over the years, including those within the framework of the “Vietnam-Cambodia, Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Year 2022”.

He told the guest that at his meeting with General Neang Phat, Secretary of State of National Defence of Cambodia, on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN-Japan Deputy Defence Ministers' Meeting in Tokyo recently, the two sides discussed bilateral defence cooperation orientations in the future.

Chien expressed his belief that Cambodia will successfully organise important political and diplomatic activities in 2023, including the general election, the 32rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32), and the 12th ASEAN Para Games.

Rem Kann agreed with the host on the efficiency of the bilateral defence cooperation over the years. He affirmed that he will continue to work closely with agencies and units of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence in promoting the ties in the future./.