Vietnam and Laos agree to bolster security cooperation

Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang was a member of the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation led by President To Lam, who paid a State visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic from July 11-12, at the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith. 

At the talks, Minister Luong Tam Quang and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Vilay Lakhamphong reviewed the results of the bilateral cooperation in safeguarding national security, ensuring order and safety in the first 6 months of 2024 between the two countries' Public Security Forces. 

In particular, the two sides have coordinated in effectively implementing the Vietnam - Laos High-Level Agreement and the 2024 Cooperation Plan between the two ministries while collaborating in neutralizing sabotage activities by hostile forces to ensure security and safety for activities in Laos during Laos’ ASEAN 2024 Chairmanship. 

Further, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and Ministry of Public Security of Laos coordinated effectively with the Ministry of Home Affairs of Cambodia in successfully organizing the first Annual Conference of Ministers of Public Security and Home Affairs of Cambodia - Laos - Vietnam in Da Nang city, Vietnam, as well as in organizing the 14th Security Cooperation Conference discussing various efficient approaches to strengthen coordination to protect national security and social order in each country.

Meanwhile, the police forces of the two countries regularly exchanged crime situations, especially drug trafficking and transnational crime, shared information about criminals, and helped capture subjects wanted by one country hiding in the other country. 

The two countries' anti-drug forces also joint forces to destroy a number of transnational drug-trafficking lines and arrest a number of transnational drug traffickers.

Regarding orientations for bilateral cooperation between the two ministries in the coming time, the two ministers agreed to effectively implement the agreements and documents signed between the two countries and the two ministries, especially the 2024 Cooperation Plan and Minutes of the 14th Vietnam - Laos Security Cooperation Conference, increase information exchange on security situations in the region, threats to security and order of each country, coordinate effectively in ensuring security and safety for international events taking place in the two countries in 2024, and strongly deny hostile forces from taking advantage of one country to sabotage the other.

Previously, in the presence of President To Lam and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Minister Luong Tam Quang and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of Laos Vilay Lakhamphong signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Lao Ministry of Public Security on building and implementing a population management and citizen identification system in Laos.

Under the authority of the President, Minister Luong Tam Quang also signed the Extradition Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic with Chief of the Lao Supreme Procuracy Xaysana Khotphouthone, and attended a ceremony to launch the population management and citizen identification system project in Lao PDR.