Vietnamese and Cambodian army units enhance cooperation

PANO - Senior leaders of the Military Zone 7 Command of the Vietnam People’s Army and the Army Command of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces on October 18^th held talks in Ho Chi Minh City, reviewing their cooperation in the 2013-2014 period and working out cooperation directions for 2015.

The talks between the two sides

The talks were co-chaired by Lieutenant General Tran Don, the Vietnamese Military Zone’s Commander, and General Mea So Phea, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Commander of the Army Command.

At the talks, the two sides exchanged issues of common concerns, including coordination in maintaining social order and political security along the border line, delegation exchanges and twinning activities, medical support, humanitarian aid and relief, training, artistic and sport exchanges, activities to search, gather and repatriate remains of Vietnamese volunteer troops who sacrificed their lives while serving the international duty in Cambodia. 

Since last year, Military Zone 7 and relevant organs have received hundreds of Cambodian officers. Dozens of delegations from the zone have also visited Cambodian army units. Besides, it has organized five training courses for over 200 Royal Cambodian Army officers.

The signing ceremony of the MoU on 2015 cooperation

Notably, the Vietnamese unit has worked with the Cambodian side to demarcate over 470,000km and planted 166 out of 194 markers. In the 2013-2014 dry season, the zone’s search teams and Cambodian units found and brought home more than 300 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer troops who had protected the Cambodians from the genocide regime. Moreover, it has also funded construction of infrastructure and health check-ups and medicines for the poor in Cambodia’s border provinces.

The two sides affirmed their determination to promote the traditional solidarity and friendship between the two armies in general, and between Military Zone 7 with Cambodia’s military regions and other units in particular, for development, and agreed to build the shared border line of peace, friendship and sustainable development.

They signed the memorandum of understanding on 2015 cooperation.