21 JANUARY

The Myanmar Tatmadaw goodwill delegation led by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the military parade held in commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the Lao People’s Armed Forces at a military academy in Vientiane province yesterday morning.

The delegation is visiting Laos at the invitation of Minister of National Defence of Laos General Chansamone Chanyalath.

Present on the occasion were President of Laos Mr. Bounnhang Vorachit and cabinet members, Minister of National Defence of Laos General Chansamone Chanyalath, senior military officers of Lao armed forces, invited high level officials of China, Viet Nam, Russia, Cambodia, Thailand, ambassadors of foreign missions in Laos, military attaches and invited guests.

The ceremony was opened with dance performances of the cultural troupe of Lao armed forces. The Lao national flag was raised and the national anthem sung. Then Major General Sonthong Phommalavong of Lao Armed Forces presented the brief account of the history of the Lao Armed Forces.

President of Laos Mr. Bounnhang Vorachit delivered an address. He then inspected the troops and military equipment of the parade, who later marched past the President.

After the aerial show of helicopters flying the Lao State Flag and the flags of the armed forces, jet fighters and men and women paratroopers, Major General Sonthong Phommalavong declared the conclusion of the parade. In the evening, the delegation led by the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attended the dinner held in commemoration of the founding anniversary, according to the news released by the Office of the Commander-in-Chief.—MNA (Translated by TMT)