Three warships from Russia’s Pacific fleet will dock at Sihanoukville town’s port from tomorrow until next Tuesday to demonstrate a renewal of military co-operation, the Russian embassy said yesterday.

The three vessels are an anti-submarine destroyer, the Admiral Panteleev, the rescue tugboat Fortiy Krilov and the Boris Butoma, a tanker.

Senior Russian navy officers and the Russian ambassador to Cambodia, Alexander Ignatov, will also have a series of meetings with high level officials at the Ministry of Defence, Preah Sihanouk Governor Sbong Sarath, and the heads of Ream Naval Base and Sihanoukville Autonomous Port.

The arrival of the three ships marks the first major visit in almost 20 years, officials said.

Ties between Cambodia and the former Soviet Union were strong in the 1980s, when the United States had placed an embargo on trade with Cambodia. Members of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces who were then fighting the remnants of the Khmer Rouge received tactical support from Soviet experts.  

Recently, Russian investors have invested heavily in tourism in Cambodia, primarily in the beach resort of Sihanoukville town and nearby islands.

The Russian embassy said the visit  also marked  the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Cambodia and Russia.