VN, Cambodia sign 2021 defense cooperation plan

Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich hosts welcome ceremony for Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Samdech Picheysena Tea Banh at the Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense in Ha Noi on December 20, 2019

The signing ceremony was held digitally as part of the pair’s virtual talks on January 8.

At the talks, both sides spoke highly of the outcomes of bilateral defense cooperation in 2020 despite numerous difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The majority of contents of last year’s cooperation plan realized effectively, especially in such areas like training, mutual assistance in COVID-19 response, and collaboration between border guard forces, and search for and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Cambodia.   

Lich appreciated Cambodia’s support for and contributions to the events, especially the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM ), hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense as the ASEAN 2020 Chair.

He congratulated the Government of Cambodia on effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Tea Banh congratulated Viet Nam on outstanding performance as the ASEAN 2020 Chair .

Regarding future cooperation orientations, both sides agreed to continue implementation of the Protocol for 2020-2024 period and the 2021 cooperation plan, with a focus on accelerating communication on the bilateral traditional friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation; improving efficiency of collaboration mechanisms, especially the Defense Policy Dialogue.

The two countries will step up all-level delegation exchanges, intensify cooperation in personnel training and cooperation and coordination in combatting cross-border crime and drug smuggling./.

By Ngoc Van