Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich and his Lao counterpart Chansamone Chanyalat have signed a protocol on cooperation for 2020-2024 period and defense cooperation plan for 2020. 

Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich and Lao Minister of Defense Chansamone
Chanyalat at the Heaquarters of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense, Ha Noi,
December 20, 2019. Photo: VGP

The signing ceremony of the documents took place following the pair’s talks in Ha Noi on Friday as part of Chanyalat’s working visit to Viet Nam to attend the 75th anniversary of the Viet Nam People’s Army.

At the talks, Lich highlighted the significance of Chanyalat’s ongoing visit to Viet Nam as it provides an opportunity for the two sides to evaluate outcomes of bilateral defense ties in the 2015-2019 period and figure out cooperation orientations for the next five years.

The visit would also help further consolidate and strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, people and armies, Lich added.

The two ministers briefed each other about political, socio-economic, and security-defense situations in their respective countries over the past time and noted with pleasure that the two ministries have coordinated in carrying out the protocol on defense cooperation and annual cooperation plans in a serious manner.

The sides have inked new collaborative agreements in such fields like training, rescue work, military laws and organized defense policy exchanges at deputy ministerial levels.

Both sides have also maintained exchanges of experience sharing on Party and political work and border management, and worked together to prevent illegal immigration.

The two ministers vowed to double efforts in consolidating and enhancing Viet Nam-Laos relations as well as solidarity among Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia./.