Malaysia, Cambodia Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation In Defence

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- The defence ministries of Malaysia and Cambodia Monday signed a letter of intent to strengthen bilateral cooperation and relations in the field of defence. Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said the letter stated that the two countries had agreed to intensify defence cooperation and people-to-people relations through military cooperation. "This includes, but is not limited to, military training, military exercises, exchange of personnel, information-sharing and use of facilities," he said in a statement issued here. Hishammuddin Monday attended a meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen Tea Banh in Phnom Penh. He said that due to the need for continuous and effective cooperation in the interests of the two nations, both ministries would endeavour to establish a committee to ensure the materialisation and implementation of the defence cooperation. He said that during the bilateral meeting, the two countries also agreed to collaborate with the other Asean countries to further develop specific areas of mutual interest. Hishammuddin said he and Banh agreed that Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts in the region should be shared among all the Asean member states. He said he would travel to Laos Tuesday to meet with Laotian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Lt Gen Sengnuan Saiyalath. -- BERNAMA