Vietnam, Cambodia Sign 2027 Defence Cooperation Plan to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Văn Giang held talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Tea Seiha in Hànội on Tuesday, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and enhancing traditional friendship between the two countries.

General Giang hosted an official welcome ceremony for his Cambodian counterpart, who is leading a delegation on an official visit to Vietnam from October 12 to 15 under the annual cooperation plan between the two countries’ defence ministries.

The visit also includes participation in the annual meeting of the three defence ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, as well as witnessing a joint exercise involving the armed forces of the three countries.

During the talks, General Giang noted that senior leaders of Vietnam and Cambodia had exchanged visits and held meetings since the beginning of 2026 to provide strategic direction for bilateral cooperation, reflecting the importance both countries attach to their relationship.

He highlighted progress in defence and security, trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges, stressing the importance of leveraging the complementary strengths of the two economies.

General Giang said defence cooperation had achieved comprehensive and substantive progress, emerging as one of the key pillars of relations between Vietnam and Cambodia.

He noted that the two defence ministries had effectively implemented their 2026 cooperation plan, covering high-level delegation exchanges, personnel training, border management and protection, education and communication, the search for and repatriation of fallen soldiers’ remains, defence industry, logistics, and coordination at multilateral forums.

The Vietnamese defence minister called on relevant agencies and units of both ministries to implement agreed cooperation programmes effectively, with particular emphasis on political and ideological education to strengthen mutual trust, as well as cooperation between military services and arms.

He also stressed the need to enhance coordination in border management and protection to build a border characterised by peace, cooperation and development.

General Giang proposed joint efforts to implement effectively the memorandum of understanding between the two governments on protecting and promoting Vietnam-Cambodia friendship monuments in Cambodia.

Other priority areas include human resources development, defence industry, logistics, military supplies, military-economic cooperation, consultations and mutual support at multilateral forums, and trilateral cooperation among the armed forces of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

For his part, General Tea Seiha expressed satisfaction with the positive developments in bilateral relations and reaffirmed the longstanding traditional friendship between the two countries.

He said the visit offered an important opportunity to deepen defence cooperation and further strengthen good-neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability between Cambodia and Vietnam.

The Cambodian defence minister commended the effective cooperation between the two defence ministries in recent years and called for continued exchanges of delegations, personnel training, and cooperation in managing land and maritime borders.

He emphasised that defence cooperation should continue to serve as a vital pillar of bilateral relations, contributing to regional peace, stability and security.

As Vietnam and Cambodia prepare to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027, General Giang proposed that relevant agencies from both sides coordinate preparations for commemorative activities organised by the two defence ministries and armed forces.

He stressed the importance of raising public awareness of the solidarity, friendship and cooperation that have characterised relations between the two neighbouring countries.

At the conclusion of the talks, General Phan Văn Giang and General Tea Seiha signed the Vietnam-Cambodia Defence Cooperation Plan for 2027, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to expanding military cooperation and strengthening their longstanding bilateral partnership.