Cambodia and China have committed to bolstering their military forces to foster prosperity and amity, striving to fortify a shared destiny.

This accord was reached during a meeting between General Mao Sophan, deputy commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), and Li Qiaoming, commander of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), who visited Cambodia on November 6.

A statement by the RCAF highlighted the beneficial military collaboration between the nations, which has yielded substantial outcomes in human resource development, high-level exchanges and military support.

The two sides underscored the significance of enhancing and broadening this cooperation, executing plans that resonate with their memorandum of understanding (MoU), bolstering confidence for mutual advantages and contributing to regional peace and stability.

“We have agreed to cooperate in strengthening our armies, fostering greater prosperity and friendliness,” it stated.

The agreement also seeks to support the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

Both parties expressed pride in their deep-rooted connection, a bond extending over two millennia, with formal diplomatic ties established in 1958 under the leadership of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk and former Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Sophan reiterated the country’s commitment to intensifying and diversifying its ties with China across both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

He assured that the country’s amicable policies towards China would persist, in line with Prime Minister Hun Manet’s leadership principles, upholding the one-China policy and fostering “diamond cooperation” for reciprocal prosperity.

Li expressed gratitude towards Manet for prioritising the deepening of Sino-Cambodian relations and respecting the one-China policy.

The visit is anticipated to further invigorate the bond between the two military forces, as stated in the press release.