Lt. Gen. Hun Manet emphasized that Vietnam and Cambodia are neighbors standing side by side in development. The two militaries have effectively ensured security in border areas, helped people living in both sides of the borderline develop socio-economy.

Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Nghia (front, right), Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army welcomes Lt. Gen. Hun Manet. Photo: VNA

A delegation of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) led by Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the RCAF and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army, is making an official visit to Vietnam, VNA reported Monday.

Following an official welcome for the Cambodian delegation on August 8 morning, Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Nghia, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), held talks with Lt. Gen. Hun Manet.

Nghia said he believes the visit by Lt. Gen. Hun Manet will help create a new impetus for the cooperation between the two armies and contribute to further promoting good neighborliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable long-term cooperation between the two countries.

He noted that the two armies have coordinated in the successful organization of many significant events during the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022, particularly the ceremony marking the 45th anniversary of the journey to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime and the first Vietnam - Cambodia border defense friendship exchange.

An overview of the talks. Photo: Vietnamnet

The two sides have also actively exchanged delegations, especially those at a high level, and intensified training cooperation in accordance with their respective needs and capacity.

Their military zones and border guard forces have shared information, and conducted joint patrols and friendship exchanges, thus timely addressing arising problems, and contributing to strengthening friendly relations between the two countries’ armies and people.

The Vietnamese officer also congratulated the Cambodian Defence Ministry and the RCAF High Demand for the successful organization of military and defense conferences of the ASEAN. He affirmed Vietnam’s support of and coordination with Cambodia in holding other events during the year Cambodia serves as Chair of ASEAN in 2022.

Lt. Gen. Hun Manet said considering their close proximity, Cambodia and Vietnam should continue to work together to get ready to respond to non-traditional security challenges and foster their solidarity and friendship.

The two sides agreed to work with each other to enhance the effectiveness of their joint efforts to fight cross-border crime. Military zones and border guard forces should maintain information-sharing mechanisms, stay ready for responding to natural disasters, diseases, and non-traditional security problems, and work to prevent and control illegal migration, thus ensuring the security and safety of areas along their shared borders.

The VPA and the RCAF will also further promote their training cooperation, which they consider a long-term strategic issue.

Chief of the General Staff of the VPA and Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong and Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the RCAF and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army. Photo: PANO

The same day, the Cambodian delegation paid a courtesy visit to Chief of the General Staff of the VPA and Deputy Defence Minister, Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong, reported PANO - the online newspaper of the Vietnam People's Army.

General Cuong emphasized the successful celebration of the 45th anniversary of Cambodian PM Hun Sen’s “Journey to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime” in Vietnam and its significance to popularize the two countries’ special relationship, mutual support over different historical periods among young generations of the two neighbors.

Regarding future cooperation, General Cuong suggested the two sides continue to effectively implement the remaining cooperation contents for this year, focusing on exchanging information, upholding order and security in border areas, enhancing collaboration between the two militaries in response to non-traditional security challenges, and in search and rescue and counter-terrorism drills.

The Vietnamese general also suggested the two sides attach importance to personnel training, education of the solidarity and friendship between the two countries, peoples, and militaries for young officers and military youths, organization of more “return-to-the-roots” programs, exchange, and twinning activities between the two militaries, and continue to support each other in international and regional forums, especially in ASEAN.

The Cambodian general believed that the fruitful relations between the two militaries will be consolidated and tightened, contributing to the two countries’ comprehensive cooperative partnership. He suggested Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia further cooperate in responding to non-traditional security challenges.

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang hosted a reception for a delegation of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) led by Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the RCAF and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army. Photo: PANO

The same day, Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang hosted a reception for a delegation of the RCAF's delegates.

Vietnam always wants to promote solidarity, friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable, and long-term cooperation with Cambodia, considering this a priority in its foreign policy, Giang told Cambodian guests in Hanoi.

Giang asked Hun Manet to convey his regards to Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh, and his invitation to the Cambodian official to attend the international defense expo to be hosted by Vietnam later this year.

For his part, Hun Manet suggested the two sides consider sustainable cooperation mechanisms such as border defense friendship exchanges, noting that substantial potential remains for their bilateral collaboration.

He also proposed authorized agencies of the two countries build cooperation agreements and tap their potential.

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