Phnom Penh: Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has encouraged the U.S. Army and the Royal Cambodian Army (RCA) of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) to continue their closer communication to strengthen and expand their cooperation.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Cambodian Premier made the encouragement when he received at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh visiting H.E. General Ronald P. Clark, Commanding General of the United States Army Pacific (USARPAC). Highly appreciating the outcomes of the bilateral meeting between H.E. General Mao Sophan, RCAF Deputy Commander-in-Chief and RCA Commander, and H.E. General Ronald P. Clark, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet emphasised that the frequent exchange of visits between the two countries’ armies, as well as the continued cooperation on a number of activities such as training, reflected the progress of the relationship between both nations.

The Prime Minister thanked the U.S. government for supporting Cambodia in its mine and unexploded ordnance clearance activities, and underlined that “in the past, Cambodia was a country that received UN peacekeeping forces, but now, Cambodia has transformed into a country that sends forces to participate in peacekeeping missions in countries around the world.”

For his part, H.E. General Ronald P. Clark laid stress on the importance of people-to-people relations, as well as the good military cooperation between the two countries, and highlighted that the U.S. would like to see progress in these relations, especially between both countries’ militaries. He spoke highly of Cambodia’s active contribution to the world peace by sending peacekeeping forces under the UN umbrella to several countries around the world.

H.E. General Ronald P. Clark has been on a two-day official visit to Cambodia to boost the military relations between the two countries.