On October 15, in Laos, the Defense Ministers of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia held a meeting and jointly observed a joint rescue and disaster relief exercise between the three countries’ armies.
Three countries’ armies conduct joint rescue and disaster relief exercise
This is the fourth joint exercise between the armies of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, and the second time hosted by Laos.
The theme of this exercise was search and rescue operations and disaster relief for flood and landslide incidents.
General Chansamone Chanyalath, Deputy Prime Minister of Laos, attended the exercise.
The high-level delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense was led by General and Minister Phan Van Giang; the high-level delegation from the Lao Ministry of Defense was led by Lieutenant General and Minister Khamliang Outhakaysone; the high-level delegation from the Cambodian Ministry of Defense was led by General, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister Tea Seiha.
For flood search and rescue operations and assisting flood victims, the three countries’ military forces conducted patrols and searched for victims within flooded areas using boats and unmanned aerial vehicles.
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Simultaneously, they conducted rescue operations and assisted victims still trapped in houses, trees, and isolated areas; rescued and assisted victims injured by floodwaters; emergency medical teams provided first aid to victims before transferring them to field hospitals.
For landslide search and rescue operations and assisting landslide victims, the three countries’ military forces collected information and accounted for citizens in disaster-affected areas; searched, rescued, and assisted landslide victims; provided medical support for the injured and handled policies for the deceased; transported severely injured victims to rear hospitals by helicopter.
Meeting of the three Defense Ministers
On the same day, a meeting of the Defense Ministers of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia took place in the capital city of Vientiane, Laos.
To further deepen defense cooperation between the three countries in the coming time, the three Defense Ministers agreed on practical cooperation contents.
Specifically, to continue consolidating and strengthening the solidarity and close relationship between the three countries and three armies; to steadfastly maintain the position of not allowing any hostile forces to use one country’s territory to harm the interests of another.
To maintain annual meetings and contacts between the three Ministers and leaders of the Defense Ministries and military leaders of the three countries, while enhancing information exchange and providing effective advice to senior leaders of the three countries on military and defense matters.
To continue strengthening cooperation in border management and protection, contributing to building a border of peace, cooperation, and sustainable development; to regularly share information and situations, promptly detecting and effectively coordinating to resolve emerging issues at the grassroots level.
To continue enhancing the coordination capability between the three countries’ armies in responding to non-traditional security challenges, through experience sharing and organizing exercises such as pandemic prevention, rescue and disaster relief, and combating cross-border crime.
To place greater emphasis on propaganda and education for the military and people, especially the younger generation, about historical truths and the significance and importance of trilateral solidarity for each country’s destiny.
And finally, to continue coordinating common positions at international and regional multilateral forums and mechanisms, particularly ASEAN mechanisms such as ADMM and ADMM+; to maintain ASEAN solidarity and centrality in international affairs.
