U.S senior defense official wraps up visit in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, (Xinhua via COMTEX) --

Derek J. Mitchell, U.S. principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, on Tuesday concluded his two-day visit to Cambodia focusing on strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation on defense.

During his visit in Cambodia, Mitchell had held the inaugural U. S.-Cambodia defense policy discussion with Neang Phat, secretary of state for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, according to the press release from U.S Embassy in Phnom Penh on Tuesday evening.

The objective of this defense talk was to highlight the U.S. department of defense's commitment to assisting the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces to develop a professional force, while encouraging Cambodia to continue on a path of improved transparency, governance, commitment to the rule of law, sustained democratic development, and respect for human rights, it said.

Mitchell said on Tuesday in the press briefing at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh that Cambodia has annually received 1 million U.S dollars from the United States for its military training.

During the visit, Mitchell also conducted site visits to the peacekeeping training center in Kampong Speu province, the National Counter-terrorism Special Force, and other sites that has benefited from U.S.-Cambodia defense cooperation.