HCM City (VNA) – The 8th meeting between the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence and the National Council of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodia Motherland (SFDCM) took place in Ho Chi Minh City on October 15, reviewing joint projects to build and preserve the friendship monuments in Cambodia and outlining future cooperation directions.
The Vietnamese delegation was led by Senior Lieutenant General Vo Minh Luong, Deputy Minister of National Defence, while the Cambodian side was headed by SFDCM President Samdech Men Sam An.
During the meeting, Luong said despite global uncertainties, the friendly neighbourliness between Vietnam and Cambodia continue to be consolidated and expanded in many areas. He emphasised that the meeting was a practical step to further strengthen the traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between the two nations, and their governments, armies, and people.
Congratulating Vietnam on its recent socio-economic achievements, Men Sam An thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their wholehearted and great assistance to help Cambodia overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime, consolidate its government and develop the country.
She underlined that the traditional friendship between the two nations, nurtured through the sacrifices of generations of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, must be preserved and promoted for the benefit of the two countries' people.
The two sides acknowledged the positive outcomes achieved since the seventh meeting held in HCM City on December 29, 2024. They noted that the projects have been carried out on schedule with positive results.
The Vietnamese ministry and SFDCM have closely coordinated efforts, actively guiding and inspecting relevant agencies and localities to ensure the effective construction, renovation, and preservation of the Vietnam–Cambodia friendship monuments.
Since 2015, Vietnam has provided funding for 24 projects in Cambodia to build, restore, and maintain the friendship monuments, as well as to repair and upgrade the SFDCM headquarters. Last year, the country financed the construction of a road to the friendship monument in Siem Reap province; in 2025, it will fund restoration work in Mondulkiri and Prey Veng provinces and build a new monument in Pursat province.
The two sides agreed to continue implementing commitments made at previous meetings, accelerate project progress, ensure quality and effectiveness, and review completed sites for formal handover to local authorities for management and preservation
They reaffirmed that the Vietnam–Cambodia friendship monuments serve as important cultural and historical symbols of the two countries’ relationship and should be preserved and promoted as enduring testaments to their solidarity and friendship./.
