Vietnam pledges support for Laos’ 50th National Day military parade

General Giang led a high-ranking Vietnamese defense delegation to Laos for an official visit, the annual trilateral meeting of defense ministers from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, and a joint search and rescue exercise among the three countries’ armed forces.

At the talks, Senior Lieutenant General Outhakaysone expressed sympathy for the recent severe losses caused by storms and floods in Vietnam, reaffirming that Laos always treasures Vietnam’s historic support during its struggle for independence and in its ongoing efforts for national development and defense.

Both sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in education and communication on the great Vietnam-Laos relationship, particularly among younger generations; human resource training as a strategic priority; and logistics, technical, and IT infrastructure development.

They were also committed to maintaining mutual support at multilateral forums and regularly holding joint rescue and disaster-response drills with Cambodia.

General Giang emphasized that 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Laos’ National Day, not merely a milestone for the Lao people but also a shared joy for Vietnam.

With its experience in organizing large-scale national events, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense is ready to assist Laos in preparing for this historic celebration.

On this occasion, Vietnam presented the Lao Ministry of National Defense with three command vehicles, white gloves, gaiters for the parade, and Vietnamese-made fireworks to mark the anniversary.

Both defense ministers expressed confidence that the trilateral defense ministers’ meeting and joint rescue drill on Wednesday will be a success, deepening solidarity and cooperation among the three neighboring countries amid an increasingly complex regional and global environment.

Following their talks, the two defense ministers signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in training, exercises, and human resource development.

Later the same day, General Giang paid courtesy visits to Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, conveying warm greetings from Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and other senior Vietnamese leaders.

During the meetings, General Giang briefed the top Lao leaders on Vietnam’s recent developments and the outcomes of defense cooperation between the two countries.