At the inaugural Philippines-Cambodia Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting, which was held from March 11 to March 14, in Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, both sides discussed a string of regional defense and security issues and ways on how the two countries can further boost cooperation to hurdle these challenges.

   
"The meeting facilitated the exchange of views on regional defense and security issues such as cyber security, counter-terrorism and violent extremism, and peacekeeping operations, among others," the Department of National Defense (DND) said in a statement.

   
"The agenda also highlighted matters on the Philippines-Cambodia bilateral defense relations and finalized various engagement activities between both countries' army, navy, and air force," the statement read.

   
Co-chaired by Philippine Defense Undersecretary Ricardo David and General Neang Phat, Secretary of State of the Ministry of National Defense of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the conference was an offshoot of the 2017 memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defense cooperation between the Philippines and Cambodia.

 
Both officials expressed hope that the initial meeting "was a step forward to further strengthening defense relations between the two countries."  Neang Phat emphasized the importance of the first meeting as it marks the positive development of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Cambodia.

 
"I believe the JDCC is really important for our parties to work together to develop our Defense Cooperation Program and Development Plan, and I believe that our troops and our people are fully committed to the meeting and to fulfil all the requirements," General Neang Phat said.

 
 For his part, David said he was "pleased" that both countries managed  "to advance our activities and engagements."

   
"We hope that this will be sustained and enhanced, to ensure a more meaningful contribution to regional peace and prosperity," David said.
The second JDCC meeting will be held in Manila next year.