Vietnam – Laos tie is of strategic importance to the sustainable development of the two countries’ revolution. In particular, defence cooperation between the two Armies is the centrepiece in accelerating and lifting to new heights, which contributes to cementing the traditional friendly relations and unity between the two Parties, States, and Peoples in the new situation.
On September 5th, 1962, Vietnam and Laos officially established diplomatic relations, which marked a new chapter in the two countries’ relationship. However, the relationship between the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and Lao People’s Army (LPA), in fact, has developed on the foundation of Laos - Vietnam Alliance since the struggle against the common enemies in Indochina.
Fully grasping the viewpoints and guidelines of the Communist Party of Vietnam, during the resistance war against French Colonist, our Army proactively assisted Laos in building political platforms, expanding revolutionary bases, developing armed forces, and coordinating with the Lao People’s Army to conduct campaigns, fronts, and battles, fight to gain victory throughout the country, liberate and take control of numerous provinces. The most resounding triumph of Vietnam – Laos alliance is the battle of Dien Bien Phu, which forced the French Colonist to sign Geneva Agreements (in 1954), put an end to the war, and restore peace in the three countries of Indochina. Bringing into play the tradition of the Alliance, the VPA and LPA stood together to drive back American Imperialism. The Communist Party and the State of Vietnam sent tens of thousands of cadres and soldiers to support the Army and the People of Laos. As for Lao Party, State, Army, and People, they wholeheartedly supported, “spared rice and shared clothes” to create a favourable posture and closely coordinate with Vietnamese Volunteer Soldiers in fighting against common enemies. That noble mutual help created great strength that led the cause of national liberation and reunification to complete victory in 1975. It can be stated that during the years of fierceness, the Armies and People of both countries spared each other profound sharing of both material and spirit so that together, they could write an immortal epic on solidarity.
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| Gen. Phan Van Giang and Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath in a defence diplomacy activity (Photo: VNA) |
Embarking on the period of building and protecting the Fatherland, the relations between the Parties, States, and Armies of Vietnam and Laos have been constantly developed. In 1976, Vietnam placed Defence Attaché Office in Laos and Laos did the same in Vietnam the following years. In July 1977, Vietnam and Laos signed Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and lifted the relations between the two countries to “Friendship and special solidarity”. Up to now, the defence tie between the two counties has produced important and all-around outcomes in a wide range of fields. This contributes to strengthening and lifting the relationship between the two countries to a new height: “Great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation” (in 2017), which marks considerable development between the two countries’ Parties, States, and Armies.
Throughout the 60 years of glorious history, Vietnam and Laos have always been proud of their special relationship as comrades and brothers. This long-standing and pure relationship between the two Parties and countries becomes exemplary and “second to none”.
Currently, in the complicated and unpredictable situation in the region and world, the Parties, States, Armies, and Peoples of both countries have prioritised the striving for lifting Vietnam–Laos great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation to a new height to maintain political stability, national defence and security and facilitate sustainable development. In particular, cooperation in national defence has been significantly contributing to the cause of safeguarding the Fatherland of each country and maintaining a stable and peaceful environment in the region and world. To that end, agencies and units of our Army are required to implement synchronous and all-round measures to create a breakthrough in this domain. The focus must be placed on the following measures.
Firstly, deeply grasping the Party’s viewpoints and guidelines in defence cooperation with Laos. This aims to maintain the political orientation and cement the friendship and special solidarity between both countries in general and the bilateral defence tie in particular. Accordingly, agencies and units in the Army, specifically the forces specialising in defence diplomacy are required to grasp and promote the cultural values, the solidarity of the Alliance, and the transparent and faithful spirit of “international proletariat” between the Armies and Peoples of both countries. Importance should be attached to creatively and effectively applying the Party’s viewpoint of “mutual help”, resolutions, strategies, conclusions, and projects on cooperation with Laos. At the same time, it is necessary to implement the defence tie with Laos on the foundation of respecting independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, trust, equality, cooperation, and mutual help for development; attach importance to the interests of the overall strategy on the basis of political reliability and the achievements in cooperation in all fields to strengthen defence cooperation which is the centrepiece in cementing the political relation between both countries.
Secondly, continuing to expand and lift the defence cooperation with Laos to a new height in the new situation. Agencies and units in the Army, specifically the forces specialising in defence diplomacy and units in border areas should advise the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of Defence (the MoD), party committees, and local authorities about the measures for effectively lifting defence cooperation. In particular, it is necessary to deal with strategic issues relating to both sides, train cadres, especially high-qualified human resources, and enhance understanding and mutual trust to reach a consensus on awareness and action. The major objective of the cooperation is to increase the defence strength of each country, reinforce strategic confidence, and consolidate durability to lift the defence tie between Vietnam and Laos to a new height as well as build a peaceful and stable environment in the region. It is required that the cooperation must be led and directed uniformly, closely coordinated with appropriate plans, synchronously implemented, and effectively combined signed agreements with the development and the signing of new agreements.
During the implementation, both sides should strengthen the exchange of delegations at all levels, attach importance to high-level meetings of the Party, State, and the MoD to bring into play the effectiveness of Defence Policy Dialogue and share the experience of international integration and defence diplomacy, etc. Attention should be paid to accelerating economic projects and national defence, coordinating to search and collect Vietnamese Volunteer Soldiers’ remains in Laos, enhancing the effectiveness of exchanges and cooperation in managing and protecting border lines according to the regulations and agreements on border cooperation of both sides, and fighting against encroachment and border violations. Achievements in all fields such as politics, economy, culture, etc should be promoted to boost the effectiveness of the defence cooperation as well as lift the tie between Vietnam and Laos to a new height.
Thirdly, strengthening the coordination with Laos for consultation at multilateral forums and actively cooperating with the armies of ASEAN countries and beyond the region to ensure security and encounter non-traditional security threats, especially in preventing natural disasters, search and rescue, preventing criminals and terrorists, etc. The VPA along with the LPA is required to actively participate in forums and multilateral defence cooperation in the region and world. During the implementation, it is necessary to consult and reach a consensus about principles and strategies. Thereby, close coordination and mutual support should be strengthened at forums and in multilateral ASEAN-led mechanisms such as ARF, and ADMM+ to reach a consensus on regional issues that both sides are concerned about.
Fourthly, continuing to supplement and complete regulations and policies to lay a legal foundation for enhancing the effectiveness of defence cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. The Department of Defence Foreign Relations must keep on researching and advising the Central Military Commission and the MoD to supplement and complete the regimes, policies, and regulations on defence cooperation with Laos; attaching importance to supplementing the mechanisms for coordination and handling of issues on the shared border of both countries. It is necessary to research, develop and supplement the coordination mechanisms of the MoD with the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ministries, branches, and localities to achieve unity in informing, advising the Party and the State to plan and implement the cooperation with Laos in general and defence cooperation in particular. Attention should be paid to hostile forces undermining the traditions and special solidarity between both countries. Regulations and policies on ensuring financial and social sources should be supplemented and completed to implement projects, plans, and defence cooperation, especially key projects and Vietnam-Laos Border Defence Exchange Activities.
The role of Military Attaché Offices of each country and joint working groups must be regularly strengthened and promoted so that the MoD can keep track of situations to promptly and effectively deal with problems arising. It is also imperative to step up the inspection of the defence cooperation, focus on annual and periodical summaries and after-action reviews to make amendments to contents, programmes, and plans, develop theory on military diplomacy, and complete legal documents to facilitate the defence cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
Senior Colonel VU THANH VAN, Head of the Department of Defence External Relations