Present at the signing ceremony on March 9 were visiting Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Tea Banh.

The same day, the two sides held talks on bilateral cooperation in 2010.

The Vietnamese side highly appreciated the results of defence cooperation with Cambodia over the past year, especially protecting border security and fighting drug trafficking.

Minister Thanh stressed on Cambodia’s active and effective assistance in searching and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in Cambodia.

He said the Vietnamese government always wants Cambodia to soon stablise the border situation in the long-term interests of neighbouring countries.

The Cambodian side agreed with Vietnam on defence cooperation in the coming time, particularly on human resource training.

Minister Tea Banh asked the Vietnamese side to accelerate friendship visits between units of the two armies to share experiences in the field.

The two sides agreed to continue boosting cooperation as mentioned in the protocol signed between the two ministries in 2009.

During the visit from Mar. 9-11, the Vietnamese defence delegation will visit the Ku Len War Invalids Centre 317 and the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Non-Commissioned Officers’ School under the Cambodian Royal Army’s Military Zone 4.