Cambodia, Vietnam step up cooperation on wartime remains recovery

By: Minea Son/Thoeun Vansong

PHNOM PENH, March 27, 2026 (KPT) – Vietnam has asked Cambodia to continue supporting efforts to recover the remains of soldiers who died during the war, underscoring close military ties between the two neighbours.

Lieutenant General Trinh Vinh Ngoc of Vietnam’s Military Region 7 made the request during talks with Defence Minister Tea Seiha in Phnom Penh on March 25.

He reported that in 2025, joint teams located and repatriated the remains of 595 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, with a further 210 recovered in the first phase of 2026.

Trinh praised Cambodia’s cooperation and highlighted strong bilateral links, including partnerships between Military Region 7 and 87 units of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

Cambodian delegations also visited Vietnam last year for study exchanges.

Tea Seiha welcomed the collaboration and thanked Vietnam for its support to the ASEAN Observer Team in Cambodia, which monitors border issues with Thailand.

The meeting reflected ongoing humanitarian and defence cooperation, rooted in decades of military and diplomatic ties between the two countries.