The army chiefs of Cambodia and Thailand on February 3 signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen relations of friendship and cooperations between the two military forces, and promote open discussion on subjects of mutual interest.

The agreement was signed between Royal Cambodian Army commander Lieutenant General Hun Manet, who also doubles as Royal Cambodia Armed Forces (RCAF) deputy commander-in-chief, and Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief Narongphan Jitkaewthae during the latter's two-day visit to Cambodia.

In a press statement released on February 3, the RCAF said the agreement paves the way for promoting cooperation in all relevant sectors between the two armies to another level.

“This event can be regarded as another start of a historical page in relations between the two countries' armies,” it said.

According to the RCAF, both sides are committed to developing and strengthening mutual border areas into models of friendship, peace, cooperation and development, that stand with the spirit of tolerance, independence and territorial sovereignty, and the resolve to facilitate the resolution of issues.

Both sides see peace, security and stability along the borders as conducive to trade, which contributes to job creation, and lifting the livelihoods of the peoples of both countries.