Vietnam beefs up defence cooperation with Laos, Cambodia
Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien hosted separate receptions in Hanoi on March 20 for Colonel Vongxay Inthakham, Defence Attaché of Laos to Vietnam, and Colonel Rem Kann, Military Attaché of Cambodia to Vietnam.
Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien receives Colonel Vongxay Inthakham, Defence Attaché of Laos to Vietnam. (Photo: dangcongsan.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) –Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien hosted separatereceptions in Hanoi on March 20 for Colonel VongxayInthakham, Defence Attaché of Laos to Vietnam, and Colonel Rem Kann, Military Attachéof Cambodia to Vietnam.
Receiving Vongxay, Chien highly valued theclose coordination between the two Ministries of National Defence in organisingactivities during the “Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship and SolidarityYear 2022”.
On the foundation of its cooperation planfor 2023, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence has assigned specifictasks to agencies and units in strengthening collaboration with their Laopeers, he said, noting that the partnership has been fruitful so far.
For his part, Vongxay expressed his delight at the development of the great friendship, specialsolidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam over theyears, including defence collaboration.
He affirmed that in his role, he willwork hard to implement activities and tasks for 2023, contributing to promotingthe defence ties between the two countries.
Receiving RemKann, Chien spoke highly of the Cambodian official’s efforts tocoordinate with agencies and units of the Vietnamese Ministry of NationalDefence in effectively implementing bilateral defence cooperation activitiesover the years, including those within the framework of the “Vietnam-Cambodia,Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Year 2022”.
He told the guest thatat his meeting with General Neang Phat, Secretary ofState of National Defence of Cambodia, on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN-JapanDeputy Defence Ministers' Meeting in Tokyo recently, the two sides discussed bilateral defence cooperation orientations in the future.
Chienexpressed his belief that Cambodia will successfully organise importantpolitical and diplomatic activities in 2023, including the general election,the 32rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32), and the 12thASEAN Para Games.
Rem Kannagreed with the host on the efficiency of the bilateral defence cooperationover the years. He affirmed that he will continue to work closely with agenciesand units of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence in promoting the ties in thefuture./.
A joint search and rescue drill between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia took place in Vientiane on September 15. Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and Vietnamese Defence Minister Phan Van Giang were among those who witnessed the event.
A forum themed “Women of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia promote international cooperation and integration for green and sustainable development in a COVID-19 world” was held in a hybrid format in Hanoi, Vientiane (Laos) and Phnom Penh (Cambodia) on September 28.
The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) hosted a dialogue on war legacies and peace in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia on October 12 -13 in Washington DC.
Vietnam always attaches great importance and gives high priority to strengthening the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia traditional relations, affirmed National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.
The leaders of the National Assemblies of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos signed a joint statement on establishing their summit mechanism in Phnom Penh on November 20, in the framework of the 43rd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-43).
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien receives Colonel Vongxay Inthakham, Defence Attaché of Laos to Vietnam. (Photo: dangcongsan.vn) 
