Hanoi (VNA) – The upcoming state visits to Laos and Cambodia by President To Lam hold great significance, affirming solidarity and close bonds between Vietnam and the two countries, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet has said.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the visits, Viet said they send out a very important message from the Vietnamese Party and State, as well as from the State leader himself that Vietnam always attaches importance and gives top priority to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos, and the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability with Cambodia.

With a determination to intensify the implementation of high-level agreements, especially the outcomes of the annual meetings between the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), and the Politburo of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), and the Standing Committee of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the visits will mark a new phase of development in the Vietnam-Laos and Vietnam-Cambodia relations based on equality, mutual benefit, effective cooperation, and respect for each other's interests, contributing to strengthening strategic trust, deepening relations with the two countries, and fostering solidarity between the three countries and the ASEAN bloc, the official said.

The Vietnam-Laos and Vietnam-Cambodia relations are developing fruitfully and comprehensively, based on enhanced trust and closeness, Deputy FM Viet said, stressing that cooperation through the Party channel plays a crucial role in orienting the relations towards stronger development.

Defence and security cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, and Cambodia has become a solid pillar, importantly contributing to maintaining political and social stability and security in each country, especially in border areas.

The three countries adhere firmly to the principle of not allowing any hostile forces to use one country's territory against another. They are effectively promoting important cooperation mechanisms such as the Annual Conference of Ministers of Public Security and Home Affairs, the Annual Ministerial Meeting of Defence Ministers of the three nations, and the joint rescue and disaster relief exercises between the three armies.

Economic, investment, and trade cooperation continues to record progress, with dynamic developments seen in border economic cooperation, contributing to boosting the connection between the three countries and improving the living standards of border residents, the official said.

The regular meetings of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee aim to exchange information and find solutions to enhance the effectiveness of cooperation in key areas, Viet said. Vietnam remains one of the largest investors and trade partners of Laos, with 255 valid projects worth 5.5 billion USD. It is also Cambodia's third-largest trading partner in the world and the largest within ASEAN, with 205 investment projects valued at 2.94 billion USD. Both Laos and Cambodia are top destinations among the 79 countries and territories where Vietnam has invested in.

Regarding educational and training cooperation, Vietnam concentrates on supporting Laos and Cambodia in improving the quality of their human resources. The number of exchange students between Vietnam and the two countries is increasing with higher quality, serving as a crucial foundation for promoting cultural exchange and intensifying mutual understanding and interaction among their peoples.

Cooperation in transportation, culture and society, tourism, and science - technology has also seen strong developments. Notably, the work regarding legal documents of people of the Vietnamese origin in Cambodia has made new strides, making it easier for them to live and work there.

During his trips from July 11 – 13, the President is scheduled to engage in talks and meetings with all the high-ranking leaders of Laos and Cambodia. This will be a favourable opportunity for them to review high-level agreements and key cooperation areas, and put forth directions for future cooperation.

The visits will certainly create new momentum to deepen the relations between Vietnam and the two countries, as well as strengthen cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as ASEAN, Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, and the United Nations, Viet went on./.