Eight Cambodian soldiers are bound for China, where they will attend a three-month mine clearance training course.
The trainees were due to leave for China on June 9, where they will remain until August, said a June 8 social media post from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF).
Khem Chea Savoeun, deputy commander and chief of staff of the army said the RCAF is taking part in several activities to clear landmines, explosive remnants of war and unexploded ordnance, through the Samdach Techo Project for Mine Action – themed “Providing Safe Ground, Creating Smiles”.
“Attending this humanitarian mine clearance training course in China is of great importance, with Cambodia vowing to completely clear landmines by 2025,” he said.
He instructed the soldiers to study hard and obey the discipline and rules of the training facility, while displaying solidarity, unity and cooperation with friends and maintaining the prestige of the RCAF and representing the identity of Cambodia.
Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), said mine action cooperation between Cambodia and China is going well, including training, financial provisions and mine clearance equipment.
He explained that the cooperation ordinarily takes place every year, but it had been disrupted for some time, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The courses recently resumed.
“Therefore, we suggested that the RCAF send more of their soldiers to join the training. They will receive invaluable mine clearance skills which will be indispensable to the Kingdom,” he said.
