At the event, General Chay Saing Yun expressed his deepest condolences to the Vietnamese delegation over the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, hoping that Vietnam would soon overcome this great loss to continue its national construction and defense cause.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien speaking at the dialogue |
Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien thanked the Cambodian Party, Government, people, and military for sharing in Vietnam's great loss. He expressed deep gratitude for the sentiments of the Cambodian people towards Vietnam as well as Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
The Vietnamese deputy defense minister emphasized that Vietnam and Cambodia share a good neighborly relations, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability. The militaries and peoples of both countries have stood side by side in the struggle against colonialism and imperialism, overthrowing the Pol Pot genocidal regime, bringing independence, freedom, and happiness to people of each country. Vietnam has prioritized the strengthening and development of its relationship with Cambodia, General Chien said.
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General Chay Saing Yun addressing the dialogue |
For his part, General Chay Saing Yun highlighted that the dialogue reflected the close relationship between the two militaries, contributing to the continued promotion of Vietnam-Cambodia ties.
During the dialogue, both sides shared views on global and regional situations and issues of mutual concern. They acknowledged that the political and security landscape across the world, as well as in some specific regions, is undergoing rapid, complex, and unpredictable changes. Both sides affirmed that ASEAN-led mechanisms continue to play a key role in promoting dialogue and cooperation within the association as well as with external partners for regional peace and stability.
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An overview of the dialogue |
Regarding maritime issues, Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that Vietnam prioritizes maintaining peace, stability, and ensuring maritime and aviation security, safety, and freedom in the East Sea (aka South China Sea). Vietnam advocates resolving all disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982; effectively and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), aiming towards building a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea in accordance with international law.
In terms of bilateral defense cooperation, both sides noted that since the sixth defense policy dialogue in April 2023, Vietnam-Cambodia defense cooperation has been comprehensively and effectively implemented, particularly in such areas as delegation exchanges, training, maintaining dialogue mechanisms, information sharing, border management, and information dissemination about the relationship between the two countries and their militaries. The two sides have effectively coordinated in the search, collection, and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives in Cambodia during wartime.
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Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and General Chay Saing Yun signing the minutes of the dialogue |
Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation through various measures, including delegation exchanges at all levels, border protection, naval and coast guard collaboration, human resource training, dialogue mechanisms, exchanges for young officers, and military personnel education about the historical significance of the friendship between their peoples and militaries. They also agreed to continue supporting each other at multilateral forums, especially ASEAN-led mechanisms, and to continue effective coordination in searching for and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese martyrs.
Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien conveyed Vietnam's expectation for support from the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense for upcoming events, notably the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army and the second Vietnam International Defense Expo later this year. He extended a formal invitation to the leaders of the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense and Cambodian businesses to attend the second Vietnam International Defense Expo.
At the end of the dialogue, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and General Chay Saing Yun signed the minutes of the seventh Vietnam-Cambodia Defense Policy Dialogue.
Translated by Trung Thanh