Vietnam-Laos hold 3rd Border Defence Friendship Exchange to strengthen defence cooperation and foster peaceful borders
WVR - On July 10, in Nghe An Province, within the framework of the 3rd Vietnam-Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchange, General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence, and General Khamliang Outhakaysone, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence of Laos, held an important meeting.
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| General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence, and General Khamliang Outhakaysone, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defence of Laos, held an important meeting. (Photo: The Dai) |
During the meeting, both sides evaluated the results of the coordination between the two Ministries of National Defence in implementing high-level agreements and the defence cooperation plan of the two countries in recent times, agreeing on the direction of future cooperation.
General Phan Van Giang expressed his pleasure as the high-level delegations of both countries had just participated in truly meaningful and impressive border exchange activities. Following the success of the two previous Vietnam-Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchanges in November 2021 and October 2024, the 3rd exchange continues to affirm itself as a distinctive cooperation content between the two countries, bearing profound political significance and having a wide-reaching impact from central leadership to the military, local governments, and people of both nations. It is an activity that concretizes the special strategic cooperative relationship between the Parties, States, cooperation and exchanges between the Ministries of National Defence, military, localities, and people of both countries, contributing to building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, stable, and developing border, for the prosperity of each country, for regional and global peace and stability.
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| The high-level delegation of the Ministries of National Defense of Vietnam and Laos at the meeting. (Photo: The Dai) |
This exchange is particularly meaningful as it is held in the heroic Bolykhamxay Province of the brotherly country of Laos and on the land of Nghe An, the hometown of the great President Ho Chi Minh. It is also a practical activity towards the 65th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic relations (1962-2027) and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (1977-2027).
General Phan Van Giang emphasized that the Thanh Thuy Border Gate (Nghe An Province) and the Nam On Border Gate (Bolykhamxay Province) are connection points for the strategically planned Hanoi-Vientiane expressway, which will soon become a reality. This can be seen as a vital artery connecting the special Vietnam-Laos friendship, linking Nghe An Province and Bolykhamxay Province; connecting politics, diplomacy, defence, security, culture, economy, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries; realizing the "connecting to the sea" policy of the brotherly country of Laos.
General Phan Van Giang stressed that people-to-people relations between the two countries in the border area are important; caring for the lives of border residents is essential. In recent times, the people on both sides of the Vietnam-Laos border have coordinated in socio-economic development, poverty alleviation; prevention and mitigation of natural disasters and epidemics; organizing cultural, artistic, and sports exchanges; preserving ethnic cultural identities.
Along with developing border clusters and villages, meaningful activities like this exchange will significantly contribute to promoting Vietnam-Laos border defence cooperation.
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| This exchange is particularly meaningful as it is held in the heroic Bolykhamxay Province of the brotherly country of Laos and on the land of Nghe An, the hometown of the great President Ho Chi Minh. (Photo: The Dai) |
General Phan Van Giang emphasized that defence cooperation is a crucial pillar in the overall special relationship between the Parties, States, and people of Vietnam and Laos, being effectively promoted and increasingly substantive, achieving outstanding and comprehensive results.
Accordingly, the two sides have closely coordinated in exchanging information and situations; effectively advising Party and State leaders on strategic issues; prioritizing high-level delegation exchanges; maintaining effective and substantive cooperation mechanisms.
Additionally, human resource training cooperation continues to be prioritized by both sides; defence industry cooperation is being promoted; economic defence cooperation is being practically implemented; cooperation between military regions, border guards, and border management and protection forces on both sides is being substantively deployed, continuing to contribute to ensuring security and social order in the border area.
Based on the Protocol on Defence Cooperation and the 2026 Defence Cooperation Plan already signed, General Phan Van Giang proposed that in the coming time, both sides focus on implementing cooperation relations, with a focus on maintaining delegation exchanges, especially high-level ones; human resource training cooperation, border management and protection, promoting cooperation in defence industry and military trade; closely consulting and supporting each other at regional and international multilateral mechanisms and forums...
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| General Khamliang Outhakaysone suggested that in the coming time, both sides enhance the education of the young generation of the two countries and two armies about the special, loyal, and enduring values of the Vietnam-Laos relationship. (Photo: The Dai) |
Regarding border management and protection cooperation, both sides enhance information exchange, situation sharing, joint patrols, border and landmark protection, combating transnational crimes; timely coordinating, preventing, and appropriately handling arising issues; expanding the model of twinning border posts and residential clusters on both sides of the border.
General Khamliang Outhakaysone expressed his honour to welcome General Phan Van Giang and the Vietnamese delegation to participate in exchange activities in Laos; at the same time, he thanked and expressed his impression of the affection of the Vietnamese military and people for the high-level delegation of the Lao Ministry of National Defence; affirming that this is evidence of the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic connection between the two countries.
General Khamliang Outhakaysone emphasised that this exchange takes place in the context of the two Parties, Vietnam and Laos, implementing each Party's resolutions and celebrating major anniversaries of each country. Meanwhile, defence cooperation between the two countries has been maintained, continuing to deepen, and in the first six months of 2026, it has achieved outstanding results in various fields: delegation exchanges, especially high-level ones; maintaining cooperation mechanisms, including the 6th Defence Policy Dialogue; people-to-people exchanges on both sides of the border are increasingly developing strongly, contributing to promoting trade between the two sides; Vietnam continues to support the construction of facilities for Laos; both short-term and long-term training cooperation is increasingly of high quality...
General Khamliang Outhakaysone suggested that in the coming time, both sides enhance the education of the young generation of the two countries and two armies about the special, loyal, and enduring values of the Vietnam-Laos relationship under the motto "Great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic connection"; coordinate in maintaining and protecting border security, enhancing joint patrol activities at the border; continue to strengthen cooperation in human resource training; build monument clusters; coordinate to organize meaningful exchange activities to celebrate important anniversaries in Vietnam-Laos relations next year.
