KAMPONG SPEU, Cambodia, March 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Thursday delivered 222 military vehicles to Cambodia, aiming at helping the Southeast Asian nation strengthen its defense capacity, officials said.
The handover ceremony was held at the Techo Hun Sen Military Technical Institute here between South Korean Deputy Defense Minister Kang Byung-joo and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen. Tea Banh.
The aid included 208 military trucks and 14 engineering vehicles, said Chao Phirun, chief of the Cambodian Defense Ministry's Technical Material Department.
"This is the third time that South Korea's Ministry of Defense provides military assistance to the Cambodia's Ministry of Defense," he said, adding that the fourth aid, including 134 trucks, eight engineering vehicles and two river patrol vessels, would be delivered to Cambodia in July.
He said South Korea's first military aid to Cambodia was provided in 2010 with 188 military trucks, 66 engineering vehicles and three patrol vessels, and the second aid was made in 2012 with 212 military trucks and 29 engineering vehicles.
Speaking at the event, Kang said that 2017 marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cambodia.
"I'm confident that the assistance will further enhance the friendly relations between our two countries and strengthen the capacity of Cambodian military personnel," he said.
Gen. Tea Banh expressed his thanks to South Korea for the military assistance, saying that the aid importantly contributed to the development of defense sector in Cambodia.
