Reporter (PV):Deputy Minister, please tell us the purpose and significance of the second Vietnam-Laos Military-Defense Exchange?

Deputy Minister Hoang Xuan Chien:Vietnam andLaosLaos and Vietnam are two neighboring countries with a close, loyal relationship that is rare in the world. The foundation was laid by President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong, and generations of leaders of the Party, State and people of the two countries have worked hard to cultivate it. Along with the sustainable development of the relationship between the two countries, the Vietnam-Laos defense cooperation has also been constantly consolidated and developed, becoming one of the important pillars in the relationship between the two countries.

On August 12, 2024, leaders of the Ministries of National Defense of Vietnam and Laos surveyed and inspected preparations for the second Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange at the Long Sap border gate area (Moc Chau,Son La).

Over the past years, under the leadership of the two Parties and States, the close and effective coordination of departments, ministries and branches, especially local Party committees and authorities, border protection forces and people in the border areas of the two countries have joined hands to build a peaceful, friendly, stable and cooperative Vietnam-Laos border. The political security, order and social safety situation along the entire border of the two countries is basically stable; the border and border markers are well managed and protected. Cooperation between the border protection forces of the two countries has always been a bright spot, contributing significantly to consolidating and enhancing the defense cooperation relationship between the two countries. The two sides have closely coordinated, maintained information exchange, cooperated in the fight against border crimes, especially drug crimes, trade fraud, smuggling, preventing free migration, illegal entry and exit; propagated and educated people in the border areas to effectively implement the border cooperation agreement of the two countries; Promote exchanges and twinning between localities and border units, creating conditions for people in border areas of the two countries to develop the economy and stabilize their lives.

The Defense Minister-level HNQPBG exchange between Vietnam and neighboring countries sharing a land border in general, and Laos in particular, is a creative and breakthrough cooperation model, promoting border and foreign cooperation, enhancing defense cooperation, which is especially valued by the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of Defense, with focused leadership and direction for implementation. The exchange activities enrich the forms and mechanisms of cooperation that the Ministry of Defense, military units of Vietnam and neighboring countries have been effectively implementing.

Following the success of the first Vietnam-Laos Military-to-Military Exchange in 2021, this year, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense coordinated with the Lao Ministry of National Defense to organize the second Vietnam-Laos Military-to-Military Exchange from October 22 to 23 in Moc Chau district, Son La province (Vietnam) and Sop Bao district, Houaphanh province (Laos). This is an opportunity for the two countries to continue affirming the policy of strengthening bilateral defense cooperation, which is identified as an important pillar of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos; directly contribute to strengthening the close relationship between the two countries, especially between local Party committees, authorities and people in border areas, while promoting the sense of responsibility of the border protection forces of the two countries to join hands to coordinate more closely and effectively in managing and protecting the border and landmarks, fighting against crimes, helping people to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty, building a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and mutually developing Vietnam-Laos border.

PV:Could you tell us the highlights of the second Vietnam-Laos Military-Defense Exchange?

Deputy Minister Hoang Xuan Chien:The second Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Exchange was held with many rich and meaningful activities such as: Greeting and painting sovereignty markers; planting friendship trees; visiting the Vietnam-Laos Young Officers Friendship Flower Garden; visiting and presenting gifts to the Long Sap Border Guard Station, primary and secondary schools on both sides of the border; attending the school inauguration ceremony; starting the construction of Border Guard Company 214/Laos donated by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense; visiting the joint exercise to catch cross-border criminals; witnessing the joint patrol between the border protection forces of the two countries; exchanging political work and young officers of the two countries' armies... The two sides will hold talks and sign a number of cooperation documents, which will serve as an important basis for effectively implementing defense cooperation in the coming time.

Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien inspected and reviewed preparations for the second Vietnam-Laos Border Defense Friendship Exchange at Long Sap border gate, Moc Chau district, Son La province, September 30, 2024.

Within the framework of the exchange, many practical activities were also given special attention by the leaders of the two countries' Ministries of Defense, such as: Organizing free medical examinations and medicine for more than 2,000 people on both sides of the border; building and presenting Long Sap Primary and Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities a 3-storey classroom complex (12 classrooms) with full desks, chairs, equipment, and computers for teachers and students to teach and study (240 sets of Hoa Phat student desks and chairs, 12 sets of Hoa Phat teacher desks and chairs, 30 sets of computers, 30 sets of computer desks and chairs); presenting Pahang Primary-Secondary School (Laos) with 45 sets of Hoa Phat student desks and chairs; building and presenting the barracks of Border Guard Company 214/Laos; awarding 100 scholarships to 100 poor students; presenting 60 breeding cows to disadvantaged households on both sides of the border; The two countries' art troupes coordinated to organize art performances to serve the people before organizing the exchange...

The most prominent highlight of this exchange is that for the first time, the two sides have coordinated to organize the Political Work Exchange and Young Military Officers of the two countries with the theme "Still Loyal to One Faith" in the form of a discussion, dramatization and broadcast live on VTV1, Vietnam Television, rebroadcast on Vietnam National Defense Television, Lao National Television and television of Vietnam-Laos border provinces. The program will be interspersed with reports on the history, solidarity, friendship and attachment between Vietnam and Laos throughout the struggle for national independence and reunification, as well as in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland of each country, along with exchange activities, sharing about the current cooperative relationship, coordination and mutual assistance between local leaders, the military, and young officers of the two countries...

The program will be an opportunity for young officers of the two armies to enhance exchanges, share experiences, and diversify forms of cooperation in Party and political work; at the same time, it will be an opportunity for the people, especially the young generation of the two countries and the two armies to better understand the history, the loyal, close, loyal relationship, and the shared destiny between the Party, State, Army and people of the two countries, as well as the determination to preserve, nurture and develop this exemplary, "unique" relationship, for the cause of national construction and protection in each country, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world; and to defeat all plots of hostile, reactionary forces to sabotage and divide the solidarity between the two countries and the two armies.

I believe that, with the attention and close direction of the leaders of the two countries' Ministries of National Defense, together with the careful preparation and responsibility of local Party committees, authorities, agencies and units of the two Ministries of National Defense, the second Vietnam-Laos Military-Defense Exchange will be a great success, leaving deep impressions, creating a widespread influence on the special friendship, solidarity and close ties between the armies and people of the two countries.

HOANG VU