PM’s Cambodia visit to reinforce solidarity to boost prosperity of each country

PM Chinh is set to pay an official visit to Cambodia from November 8 to November 13 at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

It will mark the first official visit to Cambodia by PM Chinh in his latest role, as well as being the first visit of a key Vietnamese leader to Cambodia during the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022.

The trip will take place amid the special relationship between both sides being constantly cultivated and developed since it was officially established 55 years ago.

The two countries are in the process of promoting relations under the motto of "good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability".

Both sides regularly maintain high-level meetings and exchanges, as well as bilateral co-operation mechanisms on all channels, with co-operation between ministries, sectors, and localities of the two countries becoming increasingly closer and more substantive.

Security and defence co-operation therefore continues to be strengthened with the two sides firmly adhering to the principle of not allowing any hostile force to use the territory of one country to harm the security and interests of the other.

On the basis of signed treaties, as well as agreement adopted by the two countries’ leaders, competent agencies, authorities, and citizens of border localities are in the process of striving to build a common border of peace and friendship, co-operation, and development.

Economic, trade, and investment relations have recently recorded positive developments and achieved encouraging results, with last year’s bilateral trade turnover reaching US$9.54 billion, representing an annual increase of more than 79%.

The past 10 months of the year witnessed bilateral trade turnover reach over US$8.5 billion, a sharp increase compared to the same period from 2021. At present, the country has 188 valid investment projects in Cambodia, maintaining its leading position in ASEAN, and is in the top five countries with the largest direct investment in the neighbouring nation.

The two countries’ leaders have also pledged to continue creating favourable conditions for their nationals to live in each other's territories in line with the laws of each respective side, as well as in the spirit of friendly neighbourliness.

Other areas of co-operation continue to be promoted. In the process of implementing foreign policy and international integration, the two countries have also worked well together at international, regional, and sub-regional forums, especially with Cambodia taking on the role of ASEAN Chair. As a result, they have actively contributed to peace, stability, co-operation, and the ultimate development of the ASEAN Community, as well as in the region and in the world as a whole.

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth said that the goal of the two countries moving forward is to continue to strengthen solidarity and co-operation.

With countries all around the world having recently brought the COVID-19 pandemic under control, this represents a good opportunity for both sides to develop together on all fronts whilst continuing to support each other in external activities regionally and globally.

Both Vietnam and Cambodia are members of ASEAN, with Cambodia's success in the role of rotating ASEAN Chair this year being possible due to the contribution of Vietnam, based on the spirit of "mutual help" of ASEAN.

Regarding bilateral relations, PM Sen and PM Chinh recently agreed to elevate trade turnover between the two countries to US$10 billion in 2022.

Furthermore, the two countries have consented to develop the Vietnam - Cambodia border into a border of peace, friendship, and co-operation, while ensuring exchanges, co-operation, and goods trading of people living on both sides of border areas, with the common goal of solidarity and mutual development.

Amid numerous complicated and unpredictable changes occurring throughout the world and in the region, the two countries are deeply aware of the necessity of further strengthening solidarity, co-operation, and mutual assistance for the prosperity of each nation.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang said that the two countries must continue to ramp up linages in politics to ensure the overall orientation of their relations and promote the education of the two peoples. This is especially true for the younger generation with regard to the role, importance, and strategic significance of mutual ties, as well as the vital significance of the relationship.

He also underlined the need to consolidate political trust as a means of creating a solid social foundation for the promotion and strengthening of comprehension in security, defence, and foreign affairs.

These represent important pillars in the relationship between the two countries, contributing to maintaining the environment for national development, bolstering economic ties, as well as creating new driving force and resources to ensure the sustainable development of relations.

On this basis, PM Chinh's official visit will continue to consolidate and serve to deepen the traditional friendship and solidarity, as well as the good comprehensive co-operation between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Within the framework of the visit, PM Chinh will hold talks with Cambodian PM Hun Sen, give a keynote speech at the Vietnam - Cambodia Trade Investment Promotion Forum, as well as meet with King Norodom Sihamoni, Senate President Say Chhum, National Assembly Speaker Heng Samrin, and number of senior Cambodian leaders.

It is hoped that the relationship between the two countries will continue to develop strongly moving forward, bringing plenty of practical results in accordance with the motto "good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability".