Phnom Penh (VNA)– Hundreds of soldiers from the Royal Cambodian Armyand the Vietnam People’s Army on December 18 took part in a rescue drill in Chantreadistrict in the Cambodian province of Svay Rieng that borders Vietnam’ssouthern Long An province.

The drill is to implement a protocolon search and rescue cooperation in mainland border area signed between the twodefence ministries on July 20, 2017. It is also a humanitarian assistance anddisaster relief activity within the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’Meeting (ADMM).

Speaking at the event,Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich said the exercisewill help foster the traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation andmutual assistance between the two countries’ armies and people, contributing tobuilding a border area of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation anddevelopment.

The drillfocused on the establishment and operation of a joint command post, response tochemical incidents and disasters, and post-disaster recovery.

Cambodian Deputy PrimeMinister and Defence Minister Tea Banh, for his part, said the drill also helpedimprove collaboration and sharing of information about the fight againsttrans-border crime.

In the morning of the sameday, the two defence ministers cut the ribbon and handed over the Vietnam –Cambodia friendship health care centre in Chantrea district.

The Vietnamese side alsopresented medical army equipment to the Cambodian Defence Ministry

The Vietnamese Ministry ofNational Defence also handed over 10 VSN-1500 boats manufactured by Vietnam and40 pulling machines Yamaha 40cv to the Cambodian counterpart.

Following the drill, the twocountries’ military medical staff also offered health check-ups and medicinesto Cambodian people at the site of the exercise./.