Vietnamese Military Leader Visits Star Telecom in Laos, Emphasizing Bilateral Military Cooperation

General Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa, a member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Central Committee, and head of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army, led a high-level delegation of political officers from the Vietnam People's Army to visit and work with Star Telecom (Unitel), a joint venture of Viettel Group in Laos, on the afternoon of August 7 in Vientiane, Laos. The visit underscores the continued importance of military cooperation within the "special relationship" between Vietnam and Laos. The two countries are actively promoting cooperation in theoretical research, political education, and ideology, which are considered foundational to their bilateral ties. General Nghĩa places significant emphasis on the role of the Communist Party of Vietnam in ideological and political leadership, and this visit to Laos can be seen as an extension of that focus. Cooperation in the telecommunications infrastructure sector, in particular, holds strategic significance for both economic development and national security. Star Telecom (Unitel) is a major telecommunications service provider in Laos, with significant involvement from Viettel, a Vietnamese military-affiliated enterprise. Under Vietnam's one-party system, the military also holds considerable political influence. Therefore, the visit by the head of the General Political Department likely extends beyond a mere business inspection, aiming to strengthen political and military coordination between the two nations. Furthermore, Vietnam and Laos share common strategic interests concerning their relationship with China, and the strengthening of their bilateral cooperation could influence the regional power balance. Source: Nhan Dan