Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed tointensify defence cooperation in 2021, with the focus on stepping up borderchecks and patrols to prevent illegal entry and exit so as to contribute toeach country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agreement was reached by Vietnamese Defence MinisterGen. Ngo Xuan Lich and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence MinisterTea Banh during their online talks on January 8.
At the talks, both sides spoke highly of defence cooperationresults in 2020. Despite impacts of the pandemic, almost all contents in the2020 Cooperation Plan were implemented effectively, particularly cooperation intraining, the COVID-19 combat, borderline protection, and the search andrepatriation of remains of voluntary Vietnamese soldiers who died while doingduty in Cambodia during wartime.
Gen. Lich appreciated Cambodia’s support for activitieschaired by the Vietnamese Defence Ministry during Vietnam’s ASEAN ChairmanshipYear 2020, especially the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plusand related meetings.
Gen. Tea Banh took the occasion to congratulate Vietnam onsuccessfully assuming the role as the ASEAN Chair in 2020.
They agreed to continue carrying out contents of theProtocol for 2020-2024 period and the 2021 Cooperation Plan, with the prioritygiven to stepping up disseminations on the bilateral traditional friendship,solidary and comprehensive cooperation; improving the efficiency ofcollaboration mechanisms, particularly the Defence Policy Dialogue.
The two countries will also speed up all-level delegationexchanges, intensify cooperation in personnel training and cooperation andcoordination in preventing cross-border crimes and drug smuggling.
After the talks, the two Defence Ministers signed theCooperation Plan for 2021./.
VNA
