The Golden Dragon exercises in Kampong Chhnang province. - DEFENCE MINISTRY
PHNOM PENH (The Phnom Penh Post/Asia News Network): Cambodia and China have concluded the 5th “Golden Dragon” joint military exercises, held mainly in Kampong Chhnang province this year, with a closing ceremony on April 5 presided over by Minister of National Defence Tea Banh and Chinese ambassador Wang Wentian.
Tea Banh said the drills demonstrated to the world the “ironclad” friendship of the two nations and pointed out that training exercises like the Golden Dragon are even more crucial in today’s uncertain and rapidly changing world.
“The Golden Dragon joint military exercises of 2023 presented to the world a clear demonstration of the unbreakable bonds of steel that form the friendship between Cambodia and China, which have been carefully nurtured by the previous generations of leaders of both countries and have continued to grow stronger for 65 years since diplomatic ties were first established, setting an example for a new kind of international relations,” he said.
He added that the successful completion of the joint exercises comes amid the opening of the Cambodia-China Friendship Year, established in part to celebrate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
“These joint exercises are very important to the security strategy of the Cambodia-China relationship, and they have become even more necessary in the context of the changes and challenges taking place in the world nowadays,” he said.
