PHNOM PENH, Aug 29, 2011 (Xinhua)
-- Senior defense officials of Cambodia and the United States of
America on Monday pledged to intensify bilateral ties on military
cooperation in the areas of peacekeeping, maritime security,
humanitarian assistance, and counter-terrorism.

During a meeting with Neang
Phat, Cambodia's Secretary of State for Defense, the visiting Brigadier
General Richard Simcock, Principal Director for South and Southeast Asia
in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, said that the U.S.
would continue to help Cambodia in the above-mentioned areas in order to
build a stronger tie between the U.S. and Cambodian armies.

"The
assistance of the U.S. Department of Defense to Cambodia would help to
develop a professional force that contributes to regional and
international peace and stability," (sic!) he said.

Meanwhile, Neang Phat said
Cambodia and the U.S. military cooperation have been gradually improved
and the U.S. Department of Defense has helped a lot in national defense.

"The visit of Brigadier General
Richard Simcock in Cambodia will bring closer military cooperation
between the two countries' armies," he said.

Simcock made his visit in
Cambodia from Aug. 29 to 31 strengthen Cambodia-U.S. defense
relationship, according to a press release from the U.S. embassy in
Phnom Penh.

During the visit, he will
participate in a defense ministry's workshop in Sihanoukville to discuss
the development of Cambodia's maritime security strategy.