During the meeting, the Vietnamese defense leader emphasized that Vietnam and Cambodia are close neighbors bound by a traditional solidarity and friendship. In its foreign policy, Vietnam attaches great importance to nurturing the good neighborly relationship, traditional friendship, and long-term, sustainable, comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party, headed by President Hun Sen, and the governance of Prime Minister Hun Manet, Cambodia will continue to achieve even greater accomplishments in the time ahead.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien (right) meets with General Nem Sowath. |
He highly valued the positive cooperation outcomes between the two defense ministries in recent years, particularly in delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level ones; effective maintenance of dialogue, consultation and information-sharing mechanisms; training and joint exercises; border management and protection; friendship exchanges and twinning activities; educational and communication efforts on bilateral relations; the search and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese martyrs; and coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums.
General Chien noted that the second Vietnam - Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange, held in November, had significantly contributed to promoting practical and effective cooperation among the militaries, local authorities, and border communities of both countries, helping build a shared border of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation, and development. He proposed that both sides continue to comprehensively implement the Defense Cooperation Protocol for 2025–2029, the Cooperation Plan in 2026, and the recently signed agreements between the two defense ministries.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien presents a souvenir to General Nem Sowath. |
For his part, General Nem Sowath affirmed that Cambodia always remembers Vietnam’s support in its struggle to liberate the nation from the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. He appreciated the coordination of Vietnamese defense agencies, particularly the Department of Foreign Relations, in implementing the Defense Cooperation Protocol for the 2025–2029 period and the Cooperation Plan in 2025. He expressed his hope that both sides would continue to work closely to carry out agreed cooperation areas, thereby further deepening bilateral defense ties.
Acknowledging and valuing the recent cooperation between Vietnam’s Department of Foreign Relations and Cambodia’s General Department of Policy and Foreign Affairs, General Chien suggested that the two agencies further strengthen coordination; effectively advise the leadership of both ministries on international integration and defense diplomacy; comprehensively implement bilateral military and defense cooperation activities; work closely in organizing defense related external affairs; continue sharing experience and enhancing training to improve professional capacity; and explore additional potential areas for cooperation.
He affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense always supports and creates favorable conditions for the two agencies to advance cooperation, contributing to further deepening Vietnam - Cambodia defense relations.
Translated by Tran Hoai