Prime Minister highlights defense cooperation as key pillar of Viet Nam–Laos ties

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on Tuesday hosted a reception for Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense General Khamlieng Outhakaisone, who is visiting Viet Nam to attend the 10th annual meeting of defense ministers of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia and witness the fifth joint civil defense exercise among the three countries' armed forces.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Le congratulated the Lao Party, State and people on their significant and comprehensive achievements in recent years, expressing his confidence that Laos would successfully achieve its socio-economic development goals and continue building a stable, prosperous and developed country.

Le expressed his pleasure at the positive development of the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between Viet Nam and Laos, underscoring defense and security cooperation as a key pillar of bilateral relations.

He commended the two countries' defense ministries and armed forces for effectively implementing high-level agreements, strengthening mutual trust and contributing to the maintenance of a peaceful and stable environment for socio-economic development in each country.

Le expressed his belief that Khamlieng's visit would further translate the substance of strategic cohesion between the two defense ministries and armed forces into concrete cooperation outcomes.

Appreciating the practical results achieved in defense cooperation, the Prime Minister called on both sides to effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms and agreements, consolidate political and strategic trust, enhance information sharing, and safeguard each other's legitimate interests.

He also urged both sides to coordinate closely in strengthening defense capabilities, promoting cooperation in the defense industry and personnel training, and expanding collaboration in political work and military building. These efforts would help ensure that the two countries' armed forces remain absolutely loyal and reliable forces of their respective parties, states and peoples.

In reply, Khamlieng affirmed that Viet Nam–Laos relations have continued to deepen, with increasingly substantive and effective cooperation across various fields, particularly defense.

He expressed profound gratitude to the Party, State, armed forces and people of Viet Nam for their valuable and consistent support for Laos in national construction, defense and development, contributing to the enhancement of his country's defense capabilities and self-reliance.

The Lao Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that the Lao Ministry of National Defense would continue working closely with its Vietnamese counterpart to effectively implement high-level agreements and bilateral defense cooperation arrangements, thereby further strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between the two countries.

Despite complex developments in the regional and global landscape, the special relationship between Viet Nam and Laos would remain strong and sustainable, nurtured by their two parties, states, armed forces and peoples, he stressed.

The two sides agreed to closely coordinate preparations for events during the Year of Viet Nam–Laos Friendship and Solidarity 2027 to mark the 65th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the two countries./.