Hanoi: The Lao People’s Army has expressed a keen interest in learning from Vietnam’s experience in United Nations peacekeeping activities, as it aims to develop its own force to participate in UN peacekeeping operations. Lieutenant General Vanthong Bouttavong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army, highlighted this objective during a working session with the Ministry of Defence’s Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations in Hanoi.
According to Lao News Agency, Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, hosted the Lao delegation and affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to share its experiences in UN peacekeeping operations. This cooperation is aligned with the policies of the Vietnamese Party, State, Government, and the Vietnam People’s Army. Major General Thang provided an overview of the operations and notable achievements of Vietnam’s UN peacekeeping forces over the past 11 years, along with the major policies and orientations of Vietnam.
Vietnam has deployed nearly 1,100 military personnel to missions in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and the Abyei area, including three engineering teams and six Level-2 field hospitals, with an average female participation rate of over 16%. Major General Thang shared insights into Vietnam’s experience in humanitarian missions, focusing on force building, international cooperation, training, and personnel deployment.
The discussions also emphasized the importance of synchronised efforts in preparation, communications, and inter-agency coordination. Major General Thang highlighted the need to prioritise issues such as legal frameworks, force organisation, training, and logistics. He also noted that countries new to UN peacekeeping should leverage the strength and experience of international partners.
Lieutenant General Vanthong Bouttavong reiterated the Lao People’s Army’s eagerness to learn from Vietnam’s experiences in peacekeeping operations and international collaboration with the UN. He emphasized that Vietnam is the first country Laos seeks to cooperate with in this domain. He further mentioned that the Lao People’s Army already has units prepared to participate in peacekeeping missions, including military medicine, demining, engineering, and search and rescue.
The Lao Deputy Chief of the General Staff expressed hope for guidance and support in establishing legal frameworks and directives for deploying forces in UN peacekeeping operations. He also requested Vietnam’s assistance in training Lao officers and personnel in related fields.