PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen told the Commander of the Thai Army, Narongpan Jitkaewtae, that the relationship between Cambodia and Thailand is deeper and more trusting between the two countries' armies. He added that the army should act as a diplomatic force to maintain peace and stability, to give people along the border the confidence to do business, and make the border a zone of peace and development.

In a meeting with Mr. Narongpan Jitkaewtae at the Office of the Council of Ministers on the afternoon of 3 February 2022, Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Narong Phan, who was awarded the Medal of Co-operation by the King and expressed satisfaction with the relationship between the two countries' armies. Prime Minister suggested that in order for the border to become a zone of peace, the army must be an army of diplomacy and peace.

Prime Minister's personal assistant, Mr. Eang Sophalleth told reporters after the meeting: " Prime Minister added that the army needs to play the role of a diplomatic army to maintain peace, stability, increase the trust of the people along the border, have confidence in doing business, promote development along the border, turn the border into a border of peace, friendship and development."

During the meeting, the commander of the Thai Army, Narongphan Jitkaewtae announced that he would maintain good relations with the Cambodian military and promised to always cooperate with the Cambodian army to maintain peace and stability between the two countries.

Mr. Narongphan Jitkaewtae paid his first two-day visit to Cambodia. During the visit, he signed the "Tems of Reference (ToR)" between the two countries' armies, which is an important document to enhance cooperation in all fields within the framework of the Army to a higher level.

Cambodia and Thailand share an international border of 817 km from the Gulf of Thailand in the south to Laos in the northeast. In 2011, the two countries clashed once when Thai troops invaded of Cambodia's Preah Vihear area.