Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich held a meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Tea Banh in Vientiane, Laos, on January 16.

At the signing ceremony of the cooperation plan between the National Defence Ministries of Vietnam and Cambodia

The two ministers, who have been on official visits to Laos, showed their pleasure at the strict implementation of the bilateral cooperation plan in 2017, with many cooperation fields seeing better-than-expected results, including communications, personnel training and cooperation between military regions and border guard forces.

The two sides coordinated in organising a range of activities to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2017, thus educating the youths on bilateral ties.

They also worked together in holding a writing and art contest on the Vietnam-Cambodia solidarity, and organising a journey marking 40 years of the national salvation path of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Border military regions and border guard forces of Vietnam and Cambodia coordinated closely in managing and handling violations related to the common border and border markers, ensuring political security and social order and fostering socio-economic development in their border areas.

Regarding cooperation orientations for 2018, along with effectively implementing the yearly cooperation protocol and plan, the two sides agreed to strengthen collaboration in training, considering it as an important issue of strategic significance.

Vietnam and Cambodia should continue fostering cooperation between their border guard forces, and enhancing communications and education about the friendship between their people and armies.

General Lich affirmed that Vietnam always wants to promote cooperative ties with Cambodia in all fields, including defence.

General Tea Banh reiterated the Cambodian people’s gratitude to the Vietnamese army’s and people’s sacrifices to help them escape from the Pol Pot genocidal regime in the past as well as support to the Cambodian Royal Army at present.

The Cambodian people and Royal Army always treasure the traditional, fine friendship with their Vietnamese counterparts, and will try their utmost to preserve, reinforce and promote the sound relations, he said.

After the meeting, the two ministers signed a cooperation plan between the National Defence Ministries of Vietnam and Cambodia in 2018.-VNA