Hanoi (VNA) – VietnameseMinister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang and Cambodian Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Tea Seiha agreed to develop theircountries’ defence cooperation to a new height, during their talks in Hanoi onNovember 13.

The talks followed an officialwelcome ceremony hosted by Minister Giang for the high-ranking delegation ofthe Cambodian ministry, which is paying an official visit to Vietnam fromNovember 12 to 14.

Welcoming Tea Seiha on his firstofficial visit to Vietnam as Deputy PM and Defence Minister of Cambodia,Giang offered greetings on the 70th anniversary of the IndependenceDay of Cambodia and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (November 9, 1953 - 2023).

The Cambodian official said the trip aims to further intensify the relationsbetween the two countries and the two militaries. He also took this occasion tothank the Vietnamese ministry for helping with the development of the Cambodianmilitary.

Thetwo sides shared the view that bilateral defence cooperation has reaped many positiveresults and remains one of the important pillars of the countries’ relations,as seen in the effective maintenance of mutual visits at all levels, especiallythe high level, and the establishment and active implementation of defencecooperation mechanisms, thus promoting defence ties both intensively andextensively.

Thecollaboration in border management has been carried out fruitfully by bothsides’ authorities, helping prevent unauthorised migration, illegal bordercrossing, and cross-border crimes and keep security, order, and safety inborder areas. Vietnam and Cambodia have pressed on with border demarcation andmarker planting to build a borderline of peace, stability, cooperation, anddevelopment.

The collaboration in training personneland in finding and repatriating the remains of Vietnam’s volunteer soldiers hasalso been stepped up and gained substantive results, they noted.

Bothofficials agreed that in the time ahead, Vietnam and Cambodia will enhancecoordination to continue effectively implementing the protocol for 2019 - 2024 andannual cooperation plans to elevate defence cooperation to a new height, thuscontributing to the neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensivecooperation, and long-term sustainability between the countries.

The two sides will focus on holding all-leveldelegation exchanges; training personnel; increasing communications to educatemilitary officers and soldiers on the traditional friendship, solidarity, andall-round cooperation between the two peoples and the two militaries; strengtheningcoordination in the fight against cross-border crimes, illegal border crossing,and unauthorised migration; and keeping consulting with and supporting eachother at multilateral military - defence forums and conferences.

As many significant anniversaries of the countries and the two militaries willtake place in 2024, especially the 45th anniversary of the victoryover the genocidal regime in Cambodia (January 7, 1979) and the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944), the twosides will work together to hold meaningful activities marking these importantevents, the officials noted.

In addition, they will coordinateclosely to successfully hold the first border defence friendship exchange amongVietnam, Cambodia, and Laos and the annual meeting of the three countries’defence ministers in December 2023. The coming events are of great importanceas they will affirm the three countries and their militaries’ political resolveto treasure and consolidate their friendship and solidarity.

On this occasion, Giang invited Tea Seiha and other leaders of the Defence Ministryand military of Cambodia to attend the celebration of the Vietnamese army’s 80th anniversary and the second Vietnam International Defence Expo in late 2024. TheCambodian official accepted the invitation with pleasure./.