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HANOI, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese and Lao defense ministers vowed Monday that the defense ties are one of the most important pillars of the bilateral relations.
Vietnamese Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich and visiting Lao Defense Minister Chansamone Channhalat made the remarks during their talks in Vietnam's central Da Nang city on Monday.
The two sides agreed to enhance practical effectiveness of cooperation in training and coaching, promote exchanges of visits, especially high-level visits, hold defense policy dialogue at the deputy ministerial level, and organize Vietnam-Laos friendship border exchange program in 2017.
In the new year, Lich and Channhalat said the two armies need to boost exchange of information, coordinate with each other to prevent and fight against all kinds of crimes, including narcotic trafficking, smuggling, and illegal cross-border transportation of fishery products.
In 2017, in order to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties, the two countries will complete the construction of a Vietnam-Laos Fighting Alliance and Unity monument in Laos.
After the talks, two ministers witnessed the signing of a cooperation plan between the two ministries in 2017.
