Viet Nam, Cambodia sign Protocol on defense cooperation for 2025-2029

These documents were signed by Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Tea Seiha in Phnom Penh on November 24, as part of the latter's official visit to Cambodia.

During their talks held on the same day, the two countries agreed to continue to further deepen bilateral defense cooperation, with a focus on maintaining high-level meetings and contacts and existing cooperation mechanisms; enhancing cooperation in the areas of politics; strengthening management and protection of the shared borderline; regularly sharing information, coordinating in addressing emerging issues, and effectively combating cross-border crimes, and continuing mutual support in regional and international matters and making important contributions to consolidate ASEAN solidarity and centrality.

Phan, who is also Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission, affirmed that Viet Nam always attaches importance and gives top priority to consolidating and advancing the fine neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive and long-term cooperation with Cambodia, and supports an independent, peaceful, prosperous Cambodia that plays an increasingly greater role on the international arena.

Tea Seiha, for his part, expressed thanks to the Viet Nam People's Army for its assistance to help Cambodia develop its army, promising to continue efforts to inherit and promote the achievements of the bilateral ties between the two countries and the two armies.

During his stay in Cambodia, Phan will also attend a meeting between the three defense ministers of Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam and a joint search and rescue exercise between the three armies of Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam. These events will contribute to deepening the solidarity and bonds between the three countries in general and the three armies in particular./.