The Royal Cambodian Army’s naval command headquarters, a friendship gift from the Vietnam Naval High Command, was inaugurated in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia, on July 5.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Cambodia ’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Tea Banh thanked the Vietnamese Party, Government, army and people for their effective assistance to the Royal Cambodian Army.

For his part, Deputy Defence Minister Admiral Nguyen Van Hien stressed Vietnam and Cambodia are neighbouring countries with a traditional friendly relationship.

During Vietnam’s struggles for national independence and reunification and Cambodia’s fight for independence and escape from a genocidal regime, the countries’ people and armed forces always stood side by side and assisted each other, said Hien.

In each country’s current national construction and development, the tradition has been unceasingly consolidated for peace, stability, development and prosperity of each country as well as ASEAN.

Admiral Hien and General Tea Bank said the friendship project demonstrates the unceasing development of the traditional solidarity and fine cooperation between the two armies and people.

Cambodia ’s Naval Commander Admiral Tea Vinh said the headquarters is a fully-equipped three-storey building which was built on 20,110 sq.m at a cost of more than 1.1 million USD.

Since 2002, Vietnam Navy has helped train more than 280 people for Cambodia Navy. In addition, it also helped its Cambodian counterpart in repairing ships and has provided medical facilities. In particular, two sea patrol ships presented by Vietnam ’s Navy have been involved in 27 joint sea patrols with Vietnam .

On this occasion, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh presented the Friendship Order to Admiral Nguyen Van Hien and other members of the Vietnam Naval High Command for their contributions to developing Cambodia’s naval forces and the two countries’ friendship.-VNA