17 June 2014 – ASEAN Defense Ministers conveyed on May 21 their collective message of condolence over the passing of Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Douangchay Phichit.
Malaysian Minister of Defense Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein visited Vientiane from Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar where the 8th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) was held from May 19 to 21.
During his visit, Minister Hussein signed the condolence book for the late Minister and, as decided during the ADMM, delivered the ASEAN Defense Ministers Joint Message of Condolence to the Lao Government.
Receiving the Minister and the ADMM Message was Vice Minister Chansamone Chanyalath of the Lao Ministry of National Defense. The ceremony was witnessed by ASEAN ambassadors and representatives of ASEAN embassies in Laos.
Minister Phichit was killed along with his wife and other Lao senior officials when their aircraft crashed on May 17. END