Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia seek to foster defence-security bonds

The 4th meeting of the defence and security committees of the National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia kicked off in Phnom Penh on August 27 under the chair of Acting President of the Cambodian NA Nguon Nhel.

The 4th meeting of the defence and security committees of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia opens in Phnom Penh on August 27. (Photo: NDO)
The 4th meeting of the defence and security committees of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia opens in Phnom Penh on August 27. (Photo: NDO)

Head of the NA Defence and Security Committee of Vietnam Vo Trong Viet attended the event.

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Commission on Interior, National Defence, and Civil Service Administration Hun Neng of Cambodia highlighted the importance of the agreements among the three countries to realise the determination of their NAs and Governments to enhance solidarity and cooperation towards ensuring security, stabilising politics, and promoting poverty reduction and socio-economic development in the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area.

He thanked Vietnam and Laos for their valuable contributions and support for his country to obtain its development, adding that orientations for their cooperation proposed during the past meetings have created a development vision of the three nations, especially in border areas.

Highly valuing the practicality of connecting the three economies, Chairman of the National Defence and Security Committee of the Lao NA Khamsounk Viithavong said the meeting offers a change for the three sides to share experience in ensuring security-defence, and review the implementation of the minute of the 3rd meeting held in Vietnam in 2016.

Vice Chairman of the National Defence and Security Committee of the Vietnamese NA Tran Ngoc Khanh said the Government, defence and public security ministries, relevant ministries and sectors, and localities of Vietnam have devised many measures to implement the signed agreements.

The economy of the five Vietnamese localities in the development triangle area – Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Binh Phuoc – has recorded remarkable achievements with an annual per capita GDP growth expanding 7.5%, he said, adding that cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia and Laos in the fields of agriculture, forestry, industry, tourism, education and health care has been strengthened at the national and provincial levels.

Participants discussed orientations to maintain security along the joint border lines among them, and new challenges to the thee nations’ development and signed a joint statement of the meeting.