August 1, 2024
PHNOM PENH – A French defense official pledged to facilitate exchange visits of military leaders between Cambodia and France and increase efforts to establish a demining training course for Cambodian deminers.
The pledge was made during a July 31 meeting between Vong Pisen, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), and outgoing French defence attache to Cambodia Admiral Frederic Daumas, based in Hanoi, Vietnam, at RCAF Headquarters in Phnom Penh.
Daumas stated that during his three-year mission, he was impressed by the significant role of the RCAF in participating in UN peacekeeping missions, according to a July 31 RCAF press release.
He said that in the past, the RCAF organised visits for all French defense attaches to various areas, providing them with insights into RCAF activities and a better understanding of its role.
“For future cooperation, Daumas pledged to work diligently to establish demining and other training courses, as well as to address all of Cambodia’s requests, including facilitating the exchange of visits by the leaders of the two countries’ militaries,” the press release stated.
Pisen recounted that France has provided equipment and training for the RCAF in various fields, including national defense, staff command, military police, engineering and especially the training of UN peacekeeping forces.
He expressed gratitude for the French warships that docked at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) in 2023 and hopes for continued cooperation in training human resources, exchanging visits at all levels, sharing intelligence information and combating crime.
“The good friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and France has been further demonstrated through the visit of the Cambodian King, as well as the recent visit of Prime Minister Hun Manet to France,” Pisen said.
He reminded that France has assisted Cambodia in many areas such as the economy, trade, education, health, energy, clean water and conservation of national heritage.
In early January, Manet paid his first official two-day visit to France to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in the fields of the economy, military development, heritage and the Francophone framework.
In November 2023, King Norodom Sihamoni paid a one-week official visit to France, reflecting the long-standing friendship between the two countries.