Phnom Penh (FN), Mar. 15 – Cambodian defense minister Tea Banh expressed his strong belief that the Japanese side will push for more active Cambodia-Japan bilateral military cooperation.

The minister spoke at the welcoming ceremony of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces (JMSDF) to Sihanoukville, Cambodia on Tuesday.

"I am confident that the visit of the JMSDF to Sihanoukville will further promote the Cambodia-Japan military cooperation, includes the exchange visit between junior and senior armed force leaders of the two countries, the capacity building training for the Cambodian army on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and provide training for active duty officers, commanders, engineers and health staffs,” the minister underlined.

On 15 February 2022, Cambodian army commander lieutenant general Hun Manet paid a visit to Japan at the invitation of the defense ministry as this year marks the 30th anniversary of Japan's dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Cambodia as the first case of SDF participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

Manet held separate talks with Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida, Japanese foreign minister Hayashi Yoshimasa; Japanese defense minister Nobuo Kishi; commander-in-chief of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces general Yamazaki Koji; and the commander of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force general Yoshida Yoshihide.
=FRESH NEWS