The Vietnamese defense leader visited the headquarters of the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense and met with General Chay Saing Yun, Permanent Secretary of State of the Ministry of National Defense of Cambodia.
During the courtesy call on President Hun Sen, General Cuong congratulated Cambodia on its recent significant achievements, particularly in political stability, security, and socio-economic development. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of the CPP, led by President Hun Sen, and the governance of Prime Minister Hun Manet, Cambodia would attain even greater accomplishments in national development.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong (left) and Chief of the CPP and President of the Senate of Cambodia Hun Sen |
General Cuong expressed satisfaction at the growing political and diplomatic trust between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high-level meetings between the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the CPP’s Standing Committee. He extended his sincere gratitude to President Hun Sen and Cambodian senior leaders for attending Vietnam’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the South Liberation and National Reunification, and for sending a contingent from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to participate in the parade.
President Hun Sen and General Cuong praised the progress in bilateral cooperation and expressed appreciation for the support, close ties, and sacrifices made by both countries during the struggle for national liberation and in their current nation-building efforts. President Hun Sen said that Cambodia always bears in mind Vietnam’s assistance and sacrifices in helping Cambodia escape the genocidal regime of Pol Pot and revive the nation.
General Cuong also expressed his hope that the Cambodian Senate, National Assembly, Government, and President Hun Sen personally would continue supporting the Vietnamese community and businesses in Cambodia, and create favorable conditions for the search, collection, and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors who laid down their lives in Cambodia while conducting international service in the country.
During the courtesy call on Prime Minister Hun Manet, General Cuong affirmed that Vietnam-Cambodia defense cooperation has always followed the shared understanding of the two countries’ senior leaders and has achieved commendable, practical, and effective results. He emphasized that defense ties are a vital pillar of bilateral relations and a vivid expression of both nations’ political will to strengthen their traditional solidarity and friendship.
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Prime Minister Hun Manet presents a souvenir to General Nguyen Tan Cuong (left). |
General Cuong briefed Prime Minister Hun Manet on the outcomes of his bilateral talks with the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, during which both sides highly valued the practical and comprehensive military and defense cooperation achieved to date. These achievements reaffirm the role of defense ties as one of the central pillars of Vietnam-Cambodia bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Hun Manet affirmed that the Cambodian Government always values and nurtures the neighboring relationship between the two countries. He expressed satisfaction with the comprehensive development of bilateral relations in all fields, including defense, and voiced his belief that the two nations would continue to achieve even greater success and prosperity. He pledged continued support for close and mutually beneficial military cooperation, contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region and beyond.
At the meeting with General Chay Saing Yun, the Vietnamese defense leader emphasized that Vietnam always prioritizes consolidating and enhancing the relationship of “good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability” with Cambodia.
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General Nguyen Tan Cuong (left) and General Chay Saing Yun |
Both sides acknowledged the significant achievements in defense cooperation, particularly in such areas as delegation exchanges; the effective maintenance of consultation and dialogue mechanisms; training; joint efforts in combating transnational crimes; coordination and mutual support in ASEAN-led multilateral mechanisms; and the promotion of the role of the military in addressing non-traditional security challenges, disaster relief, and environmental protection.
Looking ahead, both sides agreed to continue maintaining delegation exchanges and existing cooperation mechanisms; intensify joint efforts against transnational crimes; enhance the quality of human resource training; search for, recover, and repatriate remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and advisors who sacrificed their lives in Cambodia; support each other at regional and international forums; and conduct substantial and effective exchange and twinning activities. Additionally, the two ministries of defense will direct relevant agencies to closely coordinate and make thorough preparations for the second Vietnam-Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange scheduled for 2025.
On the same day, General Nguyen Tan Cuong and the Vietnamese delegation visited and worked with Metfone, an affiliate of the Military Industry-Telecoms Group (Viettel) in Cambodia, and MB Cambodia, a subsidiary of the Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB).
Earlier that morning, General Cuong and the delegation offered incense and laid a wreath at the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument in Phnom Penh.
Reported by Van Hieu (from Phnom Penh, Cambodia)
Translated by Tran Hoai