War veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia will tighten their cooperation in a myriad of fields after a deal on friendship and cooperation was inked between war veterans’ associations of the two countries in Phnom Penh on March 2.

The deal was reached at a meeting the same day between the Cambodian Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, Ith Samheng and head of the visiting Vietnamese delegation, Lieutenant General Tran Hanh.

Lieutenant General Hanh, chairman of the Vietnam War Veterans’ Association (VWVA), is leading a delegation to visit Cambodia from March 1-4.

According to the deal, both sides will increase coordination in dissemination of information regarding the traditional friendship and mutual support between the states, the armies and the war veterans’ associations of Vietnam and Cambodia, both domestically and internationally.

They will also increase exchange of information and experiences of managing and launching activities in order to improve living standards of veterans’ families and facilitate cooperation between veteran-run businesses.

Target localities for cooperation activities will be border provinces.

During the meeting, Chairman Tran Hanh informed the Cambodian minister of the VWVA’s current activities at both central and provincial levels. He also exchanged with the Cambodian side experiences in relation to development of veterans’ associations.

Hanh forwarded an invitation of the Veterans’ Confederation of ASEAN Countries (VECONAC) for Cambodia to join its activities.

Minister Ith Samheng said Cambodia always keeps in mind the great sacrifice and contributions of the Vietnamese people and army during the time of war and peace alike. He said the VWVA’s visit would contribute to tightening the fine relations between the two peoples and armies.

For the last two days of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation will visit several effective models of veterans’ associations in Kampong Thom and Siem Reap provinces./.