The Vietnamese Army donated more than $100,000 towards the construction of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces’ (RCAF) 3rd Intervention Brigade’s “Military History Library” in Preah Vihear province. A June 25 groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by General Srey Doek, commander of the brigade.

The 8m x 18m library was made possible by the contribution of Vietnam’s Ba Ria-Vung Tau provincial military command, said the RCAF.

Doek addressed the ceremony, explaining that the assistance was the result of a 2023-24 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the intervention brigade and the Vietnamese provincial command. The MoU was signed in March.

“This assistance is highly significant and demonstrates the cooperation, close friendship and solidarity between the RCAF and their Vietnamese counterparts,” he added.

“Let the friendship, solidarity and good cooperation between the government, the people and the armed forces of the two countries remain strong forever,” added an RCAF statement.

During the march signing of the MoU, Pham Phaing Toeung, deputy commander the Vietnamese provincial command and the leaders of the intervention brigade, announced their joint commitment to strengthen ties, solidarity and cooperation.

The RCAF quoted Doek as expressing his gratitude to Vietnam, which has always been supportive of their Cambodian counterparts.

“The Cambodian people will never forget the ‘merit’ earned by the Vietnam People’s Army when they sacrificed their own flesh and blood to free the Cambodian people from the Khmer Rouge regime,” said Doek.

He also expressed strong hopes that the friendship would continue to be long lasting.