Viet Nam, Laos sign defense cooperation plan for 2027

The document was inked by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang and his Lao counterpart Khamliang Outhakaysone in Ha Noi on October 13.

The Lao official is paying a three-day official visit to Viet Nam to attend the annual meeting of the defense ministers of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia.

At the talks between the two officials, Phan proposed the two defense ministries increase delegation exchanges at all levels, particularly high-level delegations and effectively implement consultation and dialogue mechanisms as well as bolster cooperation in Party affairs and political work.

The two sides should also continue to cooperate in border management and protection and repatriate the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos during past wars, he noted.

The host urged both sides to promote defense industry cooperation, strengthen consultation and mutual support at multilateral forums and enhance cooperation among the armed forces of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia.

He called for prioritizing human resource training, identifying it as a key task of long-term strategic significance and a core pillar in consolidating the foundation of the special relationship between the two countries and their armed forces.

For his part, Outhakaysone suggested the two sides continue coordinating efforts to implement and advance cooperation initiatives, thereby contributing to the growth and enduring sustainability of Viet Nam-Laos relations./.