The talks were co-chaired by Chief of the Vietnam Border Guard Command Lieutenant General Le Duc Thai and General Sao Sokha, the Deputy Commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army Gendarmerie.
At the event, Lieutenant General Le Duc Thai expressed his joy in working with General Sao Sokha and the delegation of the Royal Cambodian Army Gendarmerie to exchange views on coordination in border management work.
During the talks, Lieutenant General Le Duc Thai and General Sao Sokha agreed that over the past time, despite the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two sides have effectively coordinated in managing and protecting security in border areas, contributing to building a shared borderline of peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
They emphasized that the successful organization of important events have contributed to disseminating the bilateral friendship to troops and people of the two countries. Notably, the two sides successfully hosted the 44th anniversary of Prime Minister Hun Sen's “resistance journey” to liberate the nation from the Khmer Rouge, the inauguration of a complex dedicated to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s journey in Vietnam, and the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship House.
The two sides agreed that in the coming time the Vietnam Border Guard Command and Royal Cambodian Army Gendarmerie will continue coordinating with each other in carrying out contents set in the defense cooperation plan in 2022 signed by the two defense ministries. The border defense forces of the two countries should actively and pro-actively adapt to “new normal” as after the pandemic and effectively maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
The Vietnamese and Cambodian officials said that in the coming time units under the Vietnam Border Guard Command and the Royal Cambodian Army Gendarmerie should effectively carry out exchanges to foster solidarity between the two countries and create favorable conditions for people along the borderline to have their health checked, visit their relatives, and trade.
Affiliates of the Vietnam Border Guard Command and the Royal Cambodian Army Gendarmerie should also make recommendations to local authorities to promote exchanges between people living along the shared borderline, work together to disseminate regulations and law on border management to local people, and mobilize people to combat illegal border exit and entries, crime, and cross-border smuggling.
On behalf of the delegation of the Royal Cambodian Army Gendarmerie, General Sao Sokha expressed his delight at the developments of the relationship and and comprehensive cooperation of the two countries over the past time.
At the event, Lieutenant General Le Duc Thai and General Sao Sokha signed the minutes of the talks.
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Lieutenant General Le Duc Thai and General Sao Sokha sign the minutes of the talks. |
Speaking at the press meeting after the talks, General Sao Sokha emphasized that the talks was a significant event within the first Vietnam – Cambodia Border Defense Friendship Exchange in 2022. He said that it was also to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam – Cambodia diplomatic ties (June 24 1967 – 2022), the Cambodia – Vietnam Friendship Year, and the 45th anniversary of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s “resistance journey” to liberate the nation from the Khmer Rouge (June 20, 1977 – 2022).
Lieutenant General Le Duc Thai said that the talks between the Vietnam Border Guard Command and Cambodian border defense forces in general and the Royal Cambodian Army Gendarmerie in particular taking place in the Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Year bear special significance. They have contributed to consolidating solidarity and friendship between the two countries and more importantly affirmed the role of border and defense cooperation in the Vietnam – Cambodia relationship.
Translated by Tran Hoai