Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed to intensify defence cooperation in 2021, with the focus on stepping up border checks and patrols to prevent illegal entry and exit so as to contribute to each country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed tointensify defence cooperation in 2021, with the focus on stepping up borderchecks and patrols to prevent illegal entry and exit so as to contribute toeach country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agreement was reached by Vietnamese Defence MinisterGen. Ngo Xuan Lich and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence MinisterTea Banh during their online talks on January 8.
At the talks, both sides spoke highly of defence cooperationresults in 2020. Despite impacts of the pandemic, almost all contents in the2020 Cooperation Plan were implemented effectively, particularly cooperation intraining, the COVID-19 combat, borderline protection, and the search andrepatriation of remains of voluntary Vietnamese soldiers who died while doingduty in Cambodia during wartime.
Gen. Lich appreciated Cambodia’s support for activitieschaired by the Vietnamese Defence Ministry during Vietnam’s ASEAN ChairmanshipYear 2020, especially the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plusand related meetings.
Gen. Tea Banh took the occasion to congratulate Vietnam onsuccessfully assuming the role as the ASEAN Chair in 2020.
They agreed to continue carrying out contents of theProtocol for 2020-2024 period and the 2021 Cooperation Plan, with the prioritygiven to stepping up disseminations on the bilateral traditional friendship,solidary and comprehensive cooperation; improving the efficiency ofcollaboration mechanisms, particularly the Defence Policy Dialogue.
The two countries will also speed up all-level delegationexchanges, intensify cooperation in personnel training and cooperation andcoordination in preventing cross-border crimes and drug smuggling.
After the talks, the two Defence Ministers signed theCooperation Plan for 2021./.
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and Cambodian Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn on December 22 co-chaired the 18th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Commission for Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation held via video conference.
Vietnam and Cambodia on December 22 exchanged the documents ratifying the “Supplementary Treaty to the 1985 Treaty on the Delimitation of National Boundaries and the 2005 Supplementary Treaty”, also known as the 2019 Supplementary Treaty, and the protocol on land border demarcation and marker planting.
The effective implementation of the two legal documents on Vietnam-Cambodia land border, which came into force on December 22, is important to strengthening and developing the bilateral traditional friendship and all-round cooperation, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said.
Vietnam and Cambodia has reached a “historic milestone” after they officially exchanged the documents ratifying the “Supplementary Treaty to the 1985 Treaty on the Delimitation of National Boundaries and the 2005 Supplementary Treaty, known as the 2019 Supplementary Treaty, said Koy Pisey, Vice Chairwoman of the Cambodia Border Affairs Committee (CBAC).
Cambodia has stepped up checks along its borders with Vietnam and Thailand, as the new strain of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19, has been detected in the two countries.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich (Photo: VNA) 
