Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr., and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Chansamone Chanyalath led the ceremonial signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation during the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) on Wednesday.
This event commemorates 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Secretary Teodoro underscored the shared challenges faced by both countries, such as natural disasters, highlighting the potential for mutual learning and collaboration.
He emphasized the importance of fostering trust and confidence between their armed forces, describing the cooperation as a step toward “a more fraternal ASEAN.”
Minister Chansamone Chanyalath expressed gratitude for the Philippines’ support, particularly in assisting the Lao Shooting Contingent participating in the 32nd ASEAN Armies Rifle Meeting in Clark, Pampanga, as well as providing English language training for the Lao People’s Army.
As part of the initiative to deepen bilateral ties, Secretary Teodoro extended an invitation for Minister Chansamone to visit the Philippines to observe military training exercises and explore avenues for enhanced collaboration.
The MOU serves as a platform for greater cooperation, particularly in areas such as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR), disaster risk reduction, joint military training, and English language and cultural exchanges.
