A senior Vietnamese military official has lauded the development of the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia since they set up diplomatic ties over 45 years ago.

Receiving Lim Chhay, Under Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, in Hanoi on October 24, Major-General Nguyen Trong Nghia, deputy head of the Vietnam People’s Army’s General Department of Politics, further said the two countries’ relationship has seen fine growth in all aspects in the spirit of good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability.

Regarding defence ties, he said that thanks to the signing of a protocol on the Vietnam-Cambodia bilateral defence cooperation, many cooperation areas have been implemented effectively, making important contributions to strengthening the friendship between the two armies and peoples as well as to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Nghia took the occasion to express condolences to the royal family, army and people of Cambodia over the death of King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

He also thanked the Cambodian Government and people for their assistance in the search and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts during the wartime in Cambodia .

For his part, Lim Chhay expressed his deep gratitude to the Vietnamese Party, State, army and people for their assistance to the Cambodian people to escape the genocidal regime and rebuild and defend their country.

He said he will do his utmost to preserve and develop the solidarity between the two nations./.