Cambodia, Malaysia Army Chiefs pledge stronger military cooperation and support for peaceful regional solutions
Cambodia, Malaysia Army Chiefs pledge stronger military cooperation and support for peaceful regional solutions
Cambodia and Malaysia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral military cooperation and supporting the peaceful resolution of regional disputes, following talks between the two countries’ army chiefs today.
During the bilateral meeting, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) General Vong Pisen and Chief of Defence Force of the Malaysian Armed Forces Gen Malek Razak Sulaiman agreed to deepen defence cooperation and jointly contribute to maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in both countries and across the ASEAN region.
According to the RCAF, Gen Pisen described the Malaysian military chief’s visit as another milestone in strengthening military ties, noting that this year marks the 69th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Malaysia.
He also expressed appreciation for Malaysia’s contributions to Cambodia’s peace process through the UNTAC mission in 1993, as well as its role in facilitating dialogue over the Cambodia–Thailand border issue last year, including the initiative to establish the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT).
Pisen reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to resolving border issues peacefully, based on international law and relevant agreements, stressing that Cambodia rejects the use of force to alter borders.
During the meeting, Cambodia proposed accelerating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation, expanding collaboration among the armed forces, increasing joint training and exercises, enhancing information sharing, strengthening cooperation against transnational crime, and continuing support for the AOT.
In response, the Malaysian army chief thanked Cambodia for its warm hospitality and said the visit aimed to further strengthen the long-standing friendship between the two militaries.
He also praised the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces for exercising restraint despite tensions along the border and reiterated Malaysia’s firm support for resolving disputes between Cambodia and Thailand through dialogue under the General Border Committee (GBC) and Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) mechanisms, in line with ASEAN centrality.
Gen Nizam further endorsed Cambodia’s proposals to enhance bilateral defence cooperation and reaffirmed Malaysia’s continued support for the AOT in monitoring the ceasefire and helping maintain peace and stability along the Cambodia–Thailand border and throughout the ASEAN region.
-Khmer Times-
