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Defense Minister holds phone talks with Cambodian, Lao counterparts

VGP - Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich on September 8 held phone discussions with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh and Lao counterpart General Chansamone Chanyalath to review bilateral defense cooperation in the recent past and propose directions for the upcoming time.

September 09, 2020 3:54 PM GMT+7

Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich holds phone talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh, September 8, 2020 - Photo: Vietnamplus

At the discussion with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Lich affirmed that Vietnamese army stands ready to share experience and give support to the Cambodian side in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and in building capacity for the Cambodian army.

Tea Banh, for his part, highly valued ties with Viet Nam and thanked the Vietnamese army for helping Cambodia in various fields, particularly in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking highly of defense cooperation between the two sides since the beginning of the year, Lich and Tea Banh agreed that both ministries have given timely support to each other in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including sharing experience and medical supplies.

Both sides consented that the two ministries will continue cooperative activities approved by the leaders of the two defense ministries, including improving the efficiency of cooperative mechanisms, particularly the defense policy dialogue at the deputy ministerial level, working to complete cooperative frameworks, and enhancing collaboration between border guard forces to prevent transnational crime and trafficking.

They will also place borders under strict control to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Both defense leaders said they will support each other at multilateral defense cooperation forums within the ASEAN framework as well as mechanisms in which ASEAN plays a central role.

Tea Banh affirmed that the Cambodian Defense Ministry would continue coordination with the Vietnamese side so that the latter can successfully fulfill its role as ASEAN Chair this year.

Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich holds phone talks with Lao counterpart General Chansamone Chanyalath, September 8, 2020 - Photo: vietnamplus

During the talks between Defense Minister Lich and Lao Minister Chansamone Chanyalath, Lich affirmed that Vietnam is ready to continue sharing experience with and supporting Laos to effectively address impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as help the Lao People's Army improve its capacity.

The two ministers held that defense cooperation is an important pillar in the bilateral relations, and it has contributed to maintaining defense-security stability and promoting socio-economic development in each country.

Amid difficulties caused by the COVI-19 crisis, the two ministries have effectively deployed contents of the cooperation plan in 2020, promptly assisted each other and share experience in preventing the disease, demonstrating their determination, proactiveness, and flexibility to control the pandemic.

In the time to come, the two sides will coordinate to review and promptly direct agencies of the two ministries to well implement cooperation agreements reached by senior leaders of the two Parties and States as well as the cooperation plan between the two ministries.

They will also take measures to improve effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms, especially the deputy ministerial-level defense policy exchange, border management and protection, transnational crime prevention, and combating smuggling and drug trafficking crime, and illegal immigration.

The two sides affirmed mutual support at multilateral defense cooperation forums within the framework of ASEAN as well as in mechanisms in which ASEAN plays a central role.

Chansamone affirmed that the Lao Defense Ministry will continue to support and coordinate closely with Vietnam to successfully take over its role as Chair of ASEAN 2020 and organize the ASEAN Chiefs of Defense Forces, the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM), and ADMM Plus (ADMM)./.

By Hoang Ha