PM Phuc desires closer traditional friendship with Cambodia

rime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomees General Commander of the Cambodian Royal Armed Forces Vong Pisen (L)

At a reception in Hanoi on October 30 for General Vong Pisen, PM Phuc congratulated Vong Pisen on his new position as the head of the Cambodian armed forces and hailed the outcomes of the talks between Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Minister of Defence, and General Vong Pisen which, he said, will help effectively carry out cooperation agreements between the two defence ministries.

The cabinet leader applauded their fruitful cooperation on training, border security, the fight against smuggling and human trafficking, and search and rescue activities, and asked the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence to work hand in hand with Vietnam on the search and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteers and experts who laid down their lives in Cambodia during the war time.

He affirmed Vietnam’s unwavering policy of strengthening its traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia.

The two sides are gearing up preparations for the 40th anniversary of the victory over the Khmer Rouge regime (1979-2019), he said while asking Vong Pisen to urge competent authorities to join hands with Vietnam in holding anniversary celebrations for this historical event.

He asked the Cambodian Government to offer favourable conditions for border guard forces and border localities to realize cooperation programs, while stepping up communication in order to encourage local people’s adherence to border-related regulations for a common border of peace, stability, and development.

Vong Pisen, in turn, informed the Vietnamese Government leader of the cooperation results between the two armies, saying they have made considerable contributions to the close-knit relationship between residents in border areas, and joint efforts to ensure border security, combat trafficking, smuggling, human trafficking, and augment cooperation in rescue work.

They also have maintained good collaborations in the joint patrols of the border localities and working on border demarcation and marker planting, he noted, and thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence for providing training for the Cambodian army.

The Cambodian Government and people have always kept in mind the valuable support Vietnam given during its national liberation and socio-economic development while assuring his nation’s readiness to work closely with their Vietnamese competent agencies in the search and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese soldiers.

The General Commander of the Cambodian Royal Armed Forces is on an official visit to Vietnam from October 29-31.