Second Vietnam-Laos border defence friendship exchange kicks off
The second Vietnam-Laos border defence friendship exchange began with a welcome ceremony for the Lao delegation at Long Sap Border Gate in Vietnam’s northern province of Son La on October 22.
Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (left) and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Chansamone Chanyalath plant a tree at the exchange event. (Photo: VNA)
Son La (VNA) – The second Vietnam-Laos border defence friendship exchange began with a welcome ceremony for the Lao delegation at Long Sap Border Gate in Vietnam’s northern province of Son La on October 22.
The welcome ceremony was chaired by Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang. The Lao delegation was led by Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Chansamone Chanyalath.
Apart from Moc Chau, the two-day exchange will feature activities in Sop Bao district of the Lao province of Houaphanh. They include tree planting, a joint exercise on cross-border crime combat, handover of gifts, a cross-border marathon, free health check-ups and medicine distribution, and art performances. The two sides will also hold talks and sign cooperation documents.
As one of the key defence diplomacy events of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) this year, the exchange is hoped to contribute to maintaining peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
Its first edition was held in 2021 in Huong Hoa dist💯rict of Vietnam’s central province of Quang Tri, and Sepon district of Savanakhet province of Laos./.
Working delegations from the Defence Ministries of Vietnam and Laos on October 21 held a rehearsal for the second Vietnam-Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchange in Moc Chau district, the northern province of Son La, and Sop Bao district, Laos’s Houaphanh province.
Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man called for deeper cooperation between the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) and State Audit Organisation of Laos (SAO) while receiving SAO President Viengthavisone Thephachanh in Vientiane on October 18.
National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man received Chairman of the Laos - Vietnam Friendship Association Boviengkham Vongdara and Vice President of the Central Committee of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Chanphenh Soutthivong in Vientiane on October 18 as part of his official visit to the neighbouring country and attendance at the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45).
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
The ministry has instructed Vietnamese representative agencies in Israel, Iran, as well as those in neighbouring countries, to closely monitor the situation and request local authorities to ensure absolute safety for Vietnamese citizens living, studying, and working in high-risk areas.
