Phnom Penh (VNA) – A Vietnamese high-level military delegation, ledby Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief ofthe General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and Deputy Minister ofNational Defence, on November 2 concluded their four-day official visit toCambodia.

The visit, made at the invitation of General Vong Pisen, Commander-in-chief ofthe Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), aimed to review cooperation betweenthe VPA General Staff and the RCAF High Command over the past time, and discussmeasures to boost their collaboration in the time ahead.

During the stay, Giang paid a courtesy visit to Cambodian Prime MinisterSamdech Techo Hun Sen on October 30, during which the Vietnamese officer informedthe latter of the cooperation results between the two armies in the past time,including the implementation of a decree on regular rescue in border areas,collaboration between the two countries’ border guard forces on land and at sea,human resources training, and the search and repatriation of remains ofVietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts in Cambodia.

The Cambodian PM, for his part, laid stress on the significance of theVietnamese delegation’s visit, saying it would help accelerate theimplementation of high-level pacts inked between leaders of the countries, thuscontributing to consolidating the bilateral relations.

He highlighted defence collaboration as an important pillar in theVietnam-Cambodia “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensivecooperation and long-term sustainability”.

In his talks with Vong Pisen on October 31, Giang hoped that both sideswould further their efforts to accelerate border demarcation and markerplanting work, create favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals inCambodia , and protect relic sites in Cambodia that feature the friendshipbetween the two countries and militaries.

Vong Pisen expressed his profound gratitude towards the Vietnamese Party, State,people and army for helping Cambodia escape from the Khmer Rouge genocidalregime. He also thanked Vietnam for providing Cambodia with human resources training,thus strengthening the Cambodian royal armed forces.

The Cambodian Commander-in-Chief affirmed his full support for Vietnam when thecountry takes up the rotary chair of ASEAN in 2020, and organising the upcomingASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting.

The same day, Giang paid a courtesy visit to Cambodian Deputy Prime Ministerand Minister of Defence General Tea Banh.

On November 1, the Vietnamese and Cambodian defence ministries organised aceremony to present Vietnam’s Friendship Order to units and individuals of the RCAF./.