Vietnam boosts defence cooperation with Cambodia

Director of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA)’s General Department of Politics Sen. Lieut. Gen. Luong Cuong made the statement while being received by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Tea Banh in Phnom Penh on September 21.

He said the Vietnamese Party, State and army always remember and appreciate the support and assistance Cambodia has given to Vietnam.

He expressed his wish that PM Hun Sen and Minister Tea Banh continue to foster the conditions for the two defence ministries in general and the VPA General Department of Politics and the Cambodian Defence Ministry’s General Department for Defence Services in particular to realise their cooperation contents.

He asked for the Cambodian side’s help to speed up the search for and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia during past wars.

PM Hun Sen and Minister Tea Banh sent their deepest condolences to the Vietnamese Party and Government leaders and people over the death of President Tran Dai Quang.

The Cambodian PM said that his country always attaches great importance to preserving and deepening the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam for the benefits of the two countries’ peoples, and for peace, stability and development in each country.

Earlier, on September 20, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Cuong and General Neang Phat, Secretary of State at the Cambodian Defence Ministry, held talks.

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Cuong said Vietnamese and Cambodian militaries should enhance cooperation in information exchange and popularisation to ensure that people living in the border areas understand and abide by border management regulations in order to build a shared border of peace, friendship, stability and sustainable development.

He affirmed that Vietnam and Cambodia have enjoyed traditional friendship, solidarity, mutual trust, and comprehensive cooperation. The Vietnamese Party, State, military, and people always attach importance to consolidating their relations, seeing it as an invaluable asset of both peoples.

Neang Phat, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese Government, army and people for helping Cambodia during its national construction and development in general and the royal military in particular.

Both sides informed each other of the economic development, politics, defence and security in each nation and discussed issues of common concern.

They agreed that the defence collaboration has been carried out in a positive and effective manner, in line with the yearly cooperation protocol and plan. This is also an important pillar of their bilateral relations, they said.

Regarding the cooperation between the VPA General Department of Politics and Cambodia’s General Department of Defence Services and other relevant agencies, the two officials said that they should work to bolster mutual understanding, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

The two militaries should join hands to assure stability and development in each country, and defeat all plots by hostile forces to harm the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship and solidarity.

Delegation exchanges, experience sharing and training for officers should receive due attention. Both sides should enhance cooperation in the search for and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives during past wars in Cambodia.