China gives over 50,000 sets of military uniforms to Cambodia

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) – The government of China on Thursday delivered 50,000 sets of military uniforms to Cambodia, signaling a closer defense cooperation between the two nations.

The hand-over ceremony was held at the Military Airport in Phnom Penh between Zhang Jianlin, Chinese military attach to Cambodia, and Lt. Gen. Sun Samnang, director general of Cambodia' s Defense Ministry's logistics and finance department, under the witness of the four-star general Moeung Samphan, a secretary of state for Cambodian Defense Ministry.

Speaking after the hand-over ceremony, Zhang Jianlin said that the donation of military uniforms was made after the meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in May last year in Shanghai.

At that time, Hu Jintao pledged a joined package of 257 military trucks and 50,000 sets of military uniforms to Cambodia.

The 257 military trucks had delivered to Cambodia in June last year.

"Now, to honor the promise, Chinese government has handed over the uniforms to Cambodia today," he said.

"Chinese Defense Ministry hopes that the uniforms will help relieve the shortage of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces," he said. "The donation also reflects honest and good cooperation between Chinese and Cambodian armies."

He continued to say that China is pleased to help Cambodian military sector as much as possible to tighten closer cooperation ties between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Moeung Samphan expressed profound thanks to the government of China and Chinese Army for their continuous supports to Cambodian armed forces and highly evaluated the good cooperation between Cambodian and Chinese defense ministries.

"The donation of the military uniforms today is on the right time as Cambodia is facing the shortage of military materials," he said. "Cambodia firmly hopes that China will continue further support to Cambodian armed forces."