Phnom Penh: Cambodia has announced that Japanese naval vessels will be the first to dock at the newly completed Ream Naval Base in Preah Sihanouk Province, marking a significant milestone in the strategic partnership between the two nations. H.E. General Vong Pisen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), made the announcement during a meeting with Colonel Hara Takashi, the new Japanese Defence Attach© to Cambodia, at the RCAF’s Headquarters here this morning.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the first phase of the Ream Naval Base is scheduled for completion and will officially inaugurate in early April. General Vong Pisen emphasised that this historic decision reflects the strong mutual trust and comprehensive strategic partnership between the Cambodian and Japanese governments. “This priority access for Japanese vessels underscores the high-level commitment of both nations to our cooperative relationship,” he stated.

Following the initial docking of Japanese vessels, Cambodia intends to open the Ream Naval Base to ships from other countries visiting or participating in joint exercises in Cambodia. Colonel Hara Takashi expressed gratitude on behalf of the Japanese government for Cambodia’s decision, highlighting the strong cooperation between the two countries’ navies. He said the move demonstrates a commitment to enhancing international security and transparency. The decision to grant Japan priority access is seen as a move to strengthen bilateral ties and promote regional stability.