A high-ranking delegation from the Defence Ministry led by Minister Gen. Phung Quang Thanh arrived in Bangkok on Feb. 22, beginning an official visit to Thailand at the invitation of Thai Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

Minister Phung Quang Thanh.

Between Feb. 23-24, the Vietnamese delegation will work with the host country’s Defence Ministry and pay a courtesy visit to Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban.

At the meetings, the two sides will exchange opinions to boost military cooperation between the two countries, especially in conducting joint sea parols, exchanging military delegations and training Vietnamese and Thai languages.

Minister Thanh is scheduled to attend the 3rd ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Pattaya from Feb. 25-27.

Earlier, the Vietnamese Defence Ministry delegation visited Cambodia to boost cooperation in economics, trade, culture, security and defence.

During the three-day visit concluding on Feb. 22, the delegation met with Cambodian National Assembly Chairman Samdech Heng Samrin and Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen.

The Cambodian leaders affirmed that the friendship and cooperation between the two armies have been consolidated and improved, contributing to maintaining Cambodia’s peace, stability and economic development.

They also thanked Vietnamese volunteer soldiers for their help during the country’s struggle against the Pol Pot genocidal regime and suggested the two armies continue strengthening cooperation in economics and defence in the coming time.

For his part, Minister Thanh spoke highly of the effective cooperation between the two armies over the past time, especially in human resource training.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese People’s Army will further boost ties with the Cambodian side in accordance with the 2009 Cooperation Protocol signed by the two countries’ defence ministers.

VietNamNet/VNA