Indian coastguard ship INS Vijit is making a port call in Sihanoukville from Monday to Friday as part of the unit’s ongoing “goodwill visit to Southeast Asia”, the Indian embassy said in a press release on Monday.

Besides professional interaction and sports events between personnel of the Indian Coast Guard and the Royal Cambodian Navy, the programme will also include official calls and interaction with government dignitaries.

It noted that guided tours for Indian Coast Guard personnel have been planned during the visit. On its way out, the Indian Coast Guard and the navy will conduct a passing exercise.

The embassy lauded ties between the two countries, saying: “Bilateral relations between India and Cambodia have been traditionally strong with cultural, religious and economic ties.

“India-Cambodia relations have been strengthened in recent years due to various high-level visits between the two countries and growing convergence on developmental, regional and security issues,” the embassy said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen paid a bilateral state visit to India in January last year and was also a guest of honour at the Republic Day Parade 2018 as a part of the Asean-India Commemorative Summit.

Indian Minister of Commerce and Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu visited Cambodia in May last year and again in March this year.

Moreover, India’s Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited the Kingdom in June and August last year, respectively.

These high profile visits signify the growing momentum of the bilateral relationship, the embassy said.

The current vessel visit seeks to enhance maritime cooperation between Cambodia and India, as well as further bolster the strong bonds of friendship between the two nations.

It will also contribute to enhancing the security and stability of the region and the world at large, the embassy stressed.