The eighth meeting between Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence and the National Council of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodia Motherland (SFDCM) was held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 15.

The meeting reviewed the implementation of projects to build, restore, and preserve the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monuments in Cambodia and discussed directions for future cooperation.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Senior Lieutenant General Vo Minh Luong, Deputy Minister of National Defence, while the Cambodian delegation was headed by Samdech Men Sam An, President of Cambodia’s National Council of the Solidarity Front for the Development of the Cambodian Motherland

Senior Lieutenant General Vo Minh Luong showed his elation that, despite global uncertainties, the friendly relations between Vietnam and Cambodia continue to be consolidated and expanded in various fields. He emphasized that the meeting was a practical step to further strengthen the traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between the two nations, governments, armies, and peoples.

Congratulating Vietnam on its recent socio-economic achievements, Samdech Men Sam An expressed deep gratitude for the significant and selfless support extended by the Vietnamese Party, State, army, and people, which helped Cambodia escape the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime, rebuild its government, and develop the country. She underlined that the traditional friendship and good-neighborly relations between the two nations, nurtured through the sacrifices of generations of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, must be preserved and promoted for the benefit of both peoples.

Both sides acknowledged the positive outcomes achieved since the seventh meeting held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 29, 2024. They noted that the implementation of related projects has progressed on schedule and produced solid results.

Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence and the Cambodian Council have closely coordinated efforts, actively guiding and inspecting relevant agencies and localities to ensure the effective construction, renovation, and preservation of the Vietnam–Cambodia Friendship Monuments.

Since 2015, Vietnam has provided funding for 24 projects in Cambodia to build, restore, and maintain the friendship monuments, as well as to repair and upgrade the headquarters of the Cambodian Council. In 2024, Vietnam financed the construction of an access road to the friendship monument in Siem Reap province; in 2025, it will fund restoration work in Mondulkiri and Prey Veng provinces and build a new monument in Pursat province.

Both sides agreed to continue carrying out the commitments made at previous meetings, accelerate project progress, ensure quality and effectiveness, and review completed sites for formal handover to local authorities for management and preservation.

They reaffirmed that the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monuments are symbolic cultural and historical landmarks of bilateral ties and should be well protected and promoted as lasting testaments to the solidarity and friendship between the two nations.

The two sides expressed confidence that, grounded in their long-standing good-neighborly relations, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable cooperation, the governments of Vietnam and Cambodia will successfully implement future monument restoration and construction projects in Cambodia.

Vietnam, Cambodia reaffirm strong bilateral ties and border cooperation

VOV.VN - Acting Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung and Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia held a virtual discussion, highlighting trust-based relations, high-level exchanges, joint economic initiatives, and efforts to finalize land border demarcation between the two countries.