The visits aimed to promote solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the Vietnamese military region and Cambodian military partners within the framework of the signed agreements.
The visits, seen as a hallmark in Military Region 7’s implementation of the foreign policy in 2019, contributed to bolstering the bilateral relations between the two peoples and militaries, and strengthening the whole people defense posture of the military region.
Cambodians feel happier Chol Chnam Thmay with visits of Vietnamese friends
The delegation of the Military Region 7 Command, led by its Commander, Lieutenant General Vo Minh Luong, started visiting Cambodian military units and localities from the beginning of April.
At this time of the year, Cambodia looks beautiful and youthful. Buds and blossoms appear on trees, which makes people feel happy and healthy, particularly when the traditional New Year festival of the Cambodian people – Chol Chnam Thmay, is coming.
In both formal meetings and informal talks with the visiting Vietnamese military delegation, Cambodian troops and people all repeated the sacrifices of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, who laid down their lives for the revival of the Cambodian people.
As years have passed since the Cambodian people with the support of the Vietnam People Army completely defeated the Pol Pot clique, the sacrifices of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and pains of the Cambodian people caused by the Pol Pot genocidal regime have gradually eased; but for all Cambodians, Vietnam has still remained a loyal and helpful friend.
Under the schedule, the Vietnamese military delegation visited Military Regions 1, 2 and 4 of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. At every stop, the visiting delegation was warmly welcomed by all Cambodian military units and civilian authorities. All hosts said that their Chol Chnam Thmay was happier, and that they would have more success and property in the new year when Vietnamese friends came to them on the occasion of their New Year festival. The Vietnamese military delegation also had a number of sport and cultural exchange activities with local military units and people.
During the meetings with local military and civilian leaders, General Luong, Commander of Military Region 7, expressed thanks for the sincere sentiment of the hosts for the visiting delegation as well as for effective supports of the Cambodian people and military in collecting and repatriating remains of fallen Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in the past. He also hoped that the two sides would continuously cement the solidarity and friendship, promote peace and stability, and expand cooperation between the two nations and militaries.
Earlier another delegation of Military Region 7 led by its Political Commissar, Lieutenant General Tran Hoai Trung, also visited Cambodia on the Cambodian people’s Chol Chnam Thmay 2019. The delegation paid a courtesy calls on President of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin, Deputy Prime Minister Men Som On and Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Defense General Neang Phat, as well as visited a number of Cambodian military and police units.
The two delegations of Military Region 7 of Vietnam also visited and laid flowery wreaths at the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument in Phnom Penh, and Memorial of Vietnamese Volunteer Soldiers and Experts in Ba Chong village, Preak Bat ward, Stung Treng city, Cambodia.
According to General Trung, Military Region 7 and other Vietnamese military units usually pay visits and hold meetings and exchange activities with Cambodian partners on major Cambodian anniversaries with the aim of promoting mutual understanding and trust as well as boosting relations and cooperation between the two sides, following the motto for development of the Vietnam-Cambodia relations: “Good neighbor, traditional friendship, comprehensive and sustainable cooperation.”
Translated by Thu Nguyen