Vientiane: Lao Deputy Prime Minister General Chansamone Chanyalath has welcomed Vasily Osmakov, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, who is in Vientiane to take part in events marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Lao PDR. During the meeting at the Prime Minister's Office, General Chansamone expressed appreciation for the Russian delegation's presence at the anniversary celebrations, describing it as a strong show of support for the Lao Party, State, and multi-ethnic people. He reaffirmed the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Laos and Russia, ties that continue to expand across politics, defence, human resource development, technical assistance, and humanitarian affairs.
According to Lao News Agency, the Deputy Prime Minister also thanked the Russian government, military, and people for their consistent support, both during Laos' national liberation struggle and in its ongoing development efforts. He encouraged continued cooperation between the two countries and conveyed greetings to Russia's leadership, armed forces, and citizens.
Mr. Osmakov thanked the Lao side for the warm welcome and briefed General Chansamone on his earlier discussions with the Lao Minister of National Defence, including detailed planning for future bilateral military cooperation. He also congratulated Laos on its successful hosting of last year's ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM).
The Russian Deputy Minister praised the 50th National Day celebrations, highlighting the parade held on 2 December. The meeting underscored the enduring defence partnership between Laos and Russia and their ongoing commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation.