PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Cambodian Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn at their meeting in Hanoi on March 21 (Photo: VNA) PMChinh extended Vietnamese leaders’ greetings to Cambodia on the occasion of thecountry’s coming traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival. He congratulatedCambodia on its enormous achievements over the past years, especially in theCOVID-19 fight, inflation control, economic growth, the ASEAN Chairmanship in2022, and the fifth-tenure communal/ward council elections last June.
DeputyPM and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn affirmed that Cambodia always attachesimportance to the reinforcement and development of the “good neighbourliness,traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability”with Vietnam.
He expressed his delight at the flourishing bilateral relations in allaspects.
Leadersof the two countries have maintained frequent meetings and mutual visits. Bilateraltrade topped 10 billion USD in 2022, rising nearly 11% from 2021. As of the endof last year, Vietnam had 205 investment projects worth 29.4 billion USD inCambodia, establishing itself as the biggest ASEAN investor and one of the fivebiggest foreign direct investors there. The two sides also coordinated to holdmany meaningful activities in the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Year 2022.
Reportingon the outcomes of his talks with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son andthe 20th meeting of the countries’ Joint Committee, the official saidthe meeting’s minutes will serve as the basis for the two sides’ ministries andsectors to further expand and intensify their sound cooperation in differentareas, from politics, diplomacy, security, defence to economy, trade, investment,culture, and people-to-people exchange, thus generating practical benefits tothe two peoples.
Todevelop bilateral relations more fruitfully, PM Chinh asked both sides toeffectively implement high-level agreements and joint statements; boosttransport and economic connectivity and jointly build independent andself-reliant economies in tandem with extensive, substantive, and effectiveinternational integration; facilitate cross-border trade and economicdevelopment in border areas; cooperate in fighting transnational and drugcrimes; and work together in green transition and climate change response.
Hethanked and asked Cambodia to continue creating conditions forVietnamese-origin people to live and work there and promote the settlement oflegal procedures related to the community.
Healso urged the two sides to jointly seek appropriate solutions for acceleratingborder demarcation and marker planting on the remaining 16% of the land borderso as to build a border of peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
AsCambodia will host many important events in 2023, including the seventh NationalAssembly election, the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), theASEAN Para Games, and the 12th summit of the Cambodia - Laos -Vietnam Development Triangle Area, the Vietnamese Government, within itscapacity, is ready to assist, share experience, and support Cambodia to successfullyorganise those events, the host leader affirmed.
Thetwo sides also agreed to maintain close coordination and mutual support at regionaland international forums and contribute to the building of a united, strong,and prosperous ASEAN Community.
Alsoon March 21, Le Hoai Trung, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam CentralCommittee and Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for ExternalRelations, had a meeting with Prak Sokhonn, who is also member of the CambodianPeople’s Party (CPP) Central Committee’s Standing Board and head of the CPPCentral Committee’s Commission for External Relations.
Thetwo officials informed each other about the situation of their respectiveParties and countries, reviewed cooperation between the two Parties and the twocommissions, discussed measures for stepping up the implementation ofagreements reached between leaders of their Parties and countries, and touchedupon issues of common concern./.
VNA
