As Cambodia will be the ASEAN-US Dialogue Coordinator Nation in 2024, visiting U.S. Defence Secretary H.E. Gen. Lloyd Austin expressed his pleasure to work closely with Cambodia.

The information was made known during his courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet at the Peace Palace here this morning.

At the courtesy meeting, H.E. Gen. Lloyd Austin also confirmed that this was his second visit to Cambodia after his attending the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus in Siem Reap province in 2022.

H.E. Gen. Lloyd Austin said that this second visit is aimed to strengthen and expand good relations and cooperation with Cambodia in many areas where the two countries can work together, especially in the field of defense, and the United States ready to work closely with Cambodia to set up mechanisms to build better relations and cooperation.

The U.S. Defence Chief also praised the Cambodian Army’s demining skills and expressed his confidence that the United States and Cambo
dia would continue to cooperate in that field.

In response, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, expressed his warm welcome to H.E. Gen. Lloyd Austin and the delegation. He thanked and appreciated the good cooperation and relations between Cambodia and the United States.

The relations between the two countries will be further strengthened and expanded, especially in the field of defense and believed that this will provide new opportunities to expand the defense cooperation between the two countries to combat terrorism, human trafficking and drug trafficking.

Samdech Thipadei and H.E. Gen. Lloyd Austin also discussed and exchanged views on regional and international issues including security and stability, peace, unity and prosperity in the region and internationally, as well as providing mutual benefits between the two countries.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse