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Indonesia-Laos joint working group needed for enhanced defense collaboration
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Advanced technology – Visitors explore defense vehicles displayed during the 2016 International Indo Defence Expo & Forum at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, on Nov.2. (Antara/M.Agung Rajasa)
I
ndonesia and Laos should set up a joint working group through which they can assess priority areas before they further enhance defense cooperation, a high-ranking defense official has said.
Laos Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath said Tuesday that his country needed such a working group to locate the areas of its defense weaponry system that most needed improvement before it sealed any agreement with Indonesia.
“[...] I do believe that Indonesia has experience in producing defense equipment," Chanyalath told his Indonesian counterpart, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, during a meeting at his office in Vientiane, on Tuesday.
Chanyalath was responding to Ryamizard's proposal for a more enhanced defense cooperation between the two countries. In his remarks earlier, Ryamizard said it was expected that Laos could also procure defense equipment from Indonesia, expanding their existing collaboration, which is in the field of defense education and training only.
Chanyalath told Ryamizard that stronger defense cooperation between Indonesia and Laos would help build the latter's defense industry so that Laos, which still imports the majority of its weapons from other countries, could start to produce its own military weapons.
Chanyalath later proposed a high-level official meeting to discuss further details both countries should work on so their defense collaboration would be mutually beneficial. (ebf)
