Defense Minister Tea Banh Leads Delegation to China

Defense Minister Tea Banh left the country with a delegation of 23 high-ranking military and security officials Wednesday morning for a five-day “friendship-boosting” trip to China, according to Defense Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat.

The delegation includes the commanders of all three branches of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces—the army, navy and air force—along with National Military Police Commander Sao Sokha.

“This is just an annual exchange visit to boost military friendship and cooperation between our two countries,” General Socheat told reporters at the Phnom Penh International Airport.

According to a press release from the Defense Ministry, General Banh is scheduled to meet with Chinese Defense Minister Chan Wanquan, along with other high-ranking officials. Contacted Tuesday, Gen. Banh said the visit to China—Cambodia’s largest foreign investor—was “nothing big.”

“The visit will be just for discussing work, exchanging experience, expressing thanks to each other and meeting some people there,” he said.

“Developing a country, there are a lot of needs…which involve training [and] listening to their presentations about new technologies, which are not bad.”

[email protected]

Related Stories

Latest News