Da Nang (VNA) – Vietnamese and Cambodian defence ministers signed a cooperationplan for 2017 between the two ministries at their talks on January 9.

The meetingtook place at the headquarters of the Military Zone 5 High Command, after a welcomeceremony was held for Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh who is on his four-dayvisit to Vietnam, starting January 8.

At thetalks, the two ministers were pleased with outcomes of bilateral militarycooperation last year, particularly in delegation exchanges, personnel trainingand border safeguard.

DefenceMinister Ngo Xuan Lich expressed his appreciation toward Cambodia’s support forVietnam in searching and repatriating remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers andexperts.

Tea Banhsaid Cambodia is always thankful for Vietnam’s assistance during its struggle againstthe Khmer Rouge and the current national construction cause.

Both sidesagreed to work closely in organising communications campaigns and education activitiesfor mutual understanding as part of celebration of the 50-year relations betweenVietnam and Cambodia.

Theseevents include a writing contest and the upgrade of six friendship monuments inCambodia.

In 2017, Cambodiawill run commune/ward elections, thus strong information liaison with Vietnam isnecessary.

The two ministersemphasised that priorities of defence cooperation this year and the followingyears would be the organisation of delegation exchanges, deputy ministeriallevel-defence policy dialogues, join marine patrols, border work, and searchfor Vietnamese martyrs.

At thefunction, they witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between theVietnam Institute for Military Strategy and Cambodian Institute for StrategicStudies.-VNA