(Bqp.vn) - As part of the implementation of the Cooperation Plan 2025 between the Ministries of National Defense of Vietnam and Cambodia, a high-ranking military delegation from the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), led by Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Defense Minister General Nguyen Tan Cuong, began an official visit to Cambodia from June 3 to 6.
General Vong Pisen (L) welcoming General Nguyen Tan Cuong.
General Nguyen Tan Cuong and General Vong Pisen inspecting the Guards of Honor of the RCAF.
On the afternoon of June 3, General Vong Pisen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), hosted a welcome ceremony for General Nguyen Tan Cuong and the Vietnamese delegation at the RCAF Headquarters. After the ceremony, the two sides held the talks.
During the talks, General Vong Pisen underscored that the visit serves as a vivid testament to the close friendship and defence cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces. He stressed that this relationship makes considerable contributions to reinforcing the traditional friendship between the two nations.
At the talks.
General Vong Pisen speaking at the talks.
General Vong Pisen expressed Cambodia’s deep appreciation for Vietnam’s support in liberating the country from the Khmer Rouge regime and helping it embark on a path of development. He thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, People, and the VPA for their continued material and spiritual support to Cambodia and its military. He also hailed the achievements in bilateral defence cooperation in recent years, including personnel training; the search, repatriation, and identification of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia; collaboration between arms and services; joint search and rescue efforts; and coordinated activities between border management forces.
General Nguyen Tan Cuong speaking at the talks.
Speaking at the talks, General Nguyen Tan Cuong noted that the visit aims to carry out the outcomes of the February 2025 meeting between the Politburos of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Cambodian People’s Party. He acknowledged that defence cooperation has become increasingly substantive and effective, with delegation exchanges, especially high-level ones. In particular, the annual trilateral defence ministers’ meeting among Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos continues to deepen. He emphasized that various cooperation mechanisms, such as defence policy dialogues and young military leader exchanges have become more result-oriented. Joint efforts in land and maritime border management have proven effective, contributing to security and order in border areas and shared historic waters. Political and ideological cooperation, military training, defence industry and economic cooperation have also been strengthened, with both sides closely supporting each other at multilateral forums and international events hosted by each country.
General Nguyen Tan Cuong presenting a souvenir to General Vong Pisen.
During the talks, both sides shared views on regional and global issues of mutual concern. Regarding the East Sea, General Nguyen Tan Cuong reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance on maintaining peace, stability, and ensuring maritime and aviation security and safety; resolving disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), while working toward an effective and practical Code of Conduct (COC) in line with international law.
All delegates in a joint photo.
They agree to bolster cooperation in political and ideological education, particularly in raising awareness of the history and significance of the Vietnam - Cambodia solidarity. Programs such as young officer exchanges and leadership forums will be expanded, alongside joint efforts to combat cross-border crime, enhance the quality of personnel training, and offer mutual support in regional and international affairs.
