Lieutenant Colonel Mai Dang Danh and Vice Admiral May Dina co-chaired the 35th Conference on Experience Sharing on the 77th and 78th Joint Patrols between the two navies in the historic waters of Vietnam and Cambodia. (Photo: Van Dinh)

Lieutenant Colonel Mai Dang Danh, Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff of Naval Region 5 Command and Vice Admiral May Dina, Commander of Ream Sea Base co-chaired the Conference.

Attending the conference were Comrade Lai Xuan Chien, Consul General of Vietnam in Sihanoukville; Colonel Tran Tuan Phong, Deputy Head of the Vietnam Military Attaché Office in Cambodia; Colonel Luong Quoc Anh, Deputy Commander of the Naval Region 5 Command; Colonel Phan Duy Cuong, Deputy Commander of the Coast Guard Region 4 Command (Vietnam Coast Guard); Vice Admiral Sao Chan, Deputy Commander of the Forward Command of the Maritime Security Committee (Cambodia); Rear Admiral Chum Sophal, Director of the Royal Cambodian Navy's Operations Department; Rear Admiral Kong Samat, Deputy Commander of the Coastal and Island Protection Command (Cambodia) and representatives of a number of functional agencies and units of the two countries.

Lieutenant Colonel Mai Dang Danh and Vice Admiral May Dina exchanged a memorandum of understanding on future cooperation. (Photo: Van Dinh)

At the Conference, the two sides assessed: The 77th and 78th joint patrols held in December 2024 and March 2025 in the historical waters of Vietnam - Cambodia, the navies of the two countries effectively coordinated to implement the following contents: training in hand flags, lights, and whistle signals according to the International Signal Law; training in fleet formation; practicing search and rescue and using the Code of Conduct for Unexpected Encounters at Sea of ​​the Navies of the Western Pacific Countries (CUES).

Lieutenant Colonel Mai Dang Danh presents a symbolic plaque of donation of medical equipment and military medicine to the Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Clinic. (Photo: Van Dinh)

During the patrol, the naval ships of the two countries maintained close communication with the joint patrol standing office of each side; regularly exchanged information on the situation of the sea and related issues; organized observation and strictly controlled the means of operation in the historical waters, ensuring compliance with mechanisms, regulations and laws. Thereby, it contributed to maintaining security and order, creating favorable conditions for fishermen of the two countries to travel back and forth to fish and do business according to long-standing customs and practices.

In the coming time, the two sides agreed to continue to strictly implement the Agreement on Historical Waters and the Joint Patrol Coordination Regulations; step up propaganda and mobilize fishermen of the two countries to strictly comply with laws and regulations on seafood exploitation; proactively coordinate with functional forces of the two sides to prevent and combat transnational terrorism, smuggling, illegal transportation of goods, weapons, explosives, drugs, human trafficking, tax evasion and illegal entry and exit.

Conference delegates take souvenir photo. (Photo: Van Dinh)

The two sides agreed to continue to effectively maintain communication channels, especially the hotline, to coordinate in timely, harmonious and satisfactory handling of incidents at sea, in the spirit of cooperation, respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law; contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, further deepening the relationship of solidarity, friendship, understanding and mutual trust between the two navies.

At the conference, authorized by the Vietnam People's Navy Command, Lieutenant Colonel Mai Dang Danh presented medical equipment and military medicine to the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Clinic.

Within the framework of the working program, the delegation of the Naval Region 5 Command offered incense at the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Monument, paying tribute to the people of the "Land of Pagodas" and the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the struggle to overthrow the Pol Pot regime, helping the Cambodian people escape the disaster of genocide. On this occasion, the delegation also visited and paid a courtesy visit to the Consulate General of Vietnam in Preah Sihanouk province.

The working delegation of Naval Region 5 Command offered incense at the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Monument. (Photo: Van Dinh)

A working delegation from the Naval Region 5 Command visited the Vietnamese Consulate General in Preah Sihanouk province. (Photo: Van Dinh)