Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen. Ngô Xuân Lịch at online talks with Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banhon Friday. — Photo qdnd.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam and Cambodia have agreed to this year intensify defence cooperation, focusing on stepping up border checks and patrols to prevent illegal entry and exit to help contain COVID-19.

The agreement was reached by Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen. Ngô Xuân Lịch and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh during their online talks on Friday.

Both countries spoke highly of defence cooperation in 2020. Despite impacts of the pandemic, almost all contents in the 2020 Cooperation Plan were implemented effectively, particularly cooperation in training, COVID-19 combat, borderline protection, and the search and repatriation of remains of voluntary Vietnamese soldiers who died while on duty in Cambodia during wartime.

Gen. Lịch appreciated Cambodia’s support for activities chaired by the Vietnamese Defence Ministry during Việt Nam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, especially the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plus and related meetings.

Gen. Tea Banh used the occasion to congratulate Việt Nam on successfully assuming the role as the ASEAN Chair in 2020.

They agreed to continue carrying out contents of the Protocol for 2020-2024 period and the 2021 Cooperation Plan, with the priority given to stepping up disseminations on the bilateral traditional friendship, solidary and comprehensive cooperation; improving the efficiency of collaboration mechanisms, particularly the Defence Policy Dialogue.

The two countries will also speed up all-level delegation exchanges, intensify cooperation in personnel training and cooperation and coordination in preventing cross-border crimes and drug smuggling.

After the talks, the two Defence Ministers signed the Cooperation Plan for 2021. — VNS