"Fifty years is enough to prove the close relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia."

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that the experience of the past 50 years has proven that Vietnam and Cambodia have a close and inseparable relationship.

During his state visit to Cambodia, on the evening of July 20, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended a state banquet hosted by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni.

Speaking here, King Norodom Sihamoni expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Vietnam for its unwavering support and assistance to Cambodia in its struggle for national liberation and defense of the homeland.

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni welcomes General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. (Photo: VNA)

King Norodom Sihamoni stated that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to Cambodia is a historic event, taking place precisely on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Cambodian people warmly welcomed the General Secretary and the entire delegation, expressing the good fraternal friendship and the deepest affection of the Cambodian people for the fraternal Vietnamese people and for the General Secretary personally and the high-level Vietnamese delegation.

The people of Vietnam and the people of Cambodia are close neighbors and brothers; they share a historical tradition and have always strived to strengthen and develop friendship, solidarity, and active cooperation, yielding fruitful results in the relationship between the two countries, for the stability and development of the region.

"The Cambodian people are very proud to have the Vietnamese people as their comrade-in-arms, always helping each other, at all times and in all places, for peace and common development throughout all periods. Cambodia highly appreciates and expresses its sincere gratitude from the bottom of its heart to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for always being ready to help and strongly support Cambodia in the cause of national liberation and defense of the Fatherland," King Norodom Sihamoni emphasized.

King Norodom Sihamoni stated that, as a close friend of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people, he expressed his joy and enthusiasm, highly appreciating Vietnam's strong socio-economic development in recent years. He also expressed his confidence that Vietnam will continue to share its best practices, knowledge, and practical experience with the Cambodian people, and continue to support the development of the Cambodian economy.

King Norodom Sihamoni emphasized that the Cambodian nation's glorious journey forward is thanks to the immense support and assistance of friendly countries around the world, including Vietnam. They have helped Cambodia both domestically and internationally, both during times of hardship and in times of peace.

"On this momentous occasion, I would like to express my appreciation for the State visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia by His Excellency Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and the high-level delegation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This is a vivid manifestation of the continued preservation and strengthening of the traditional friendship, brotherhood, and bilateral cooperation between our two countries, bringing peace and common development to the people of both countries and contributing to maintaining stability in the region and the world," affirmed King Norodom Sihamoni.

In his reply speech, the General Secretary sincerely thanked the King, the leaders of the Senate, the National Assembly, the Government, and the people of Cambodia for the extremely respectful, warm, and friendly welcome extended to him and the high-level Vietnamese delegation; and expressed his pleasure at visiting the Kingdom of Cambodia on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The General Secretary stated that 50 years ago, amidst the most difficult and fierce stage of the Vietnamese people's resistance war against the US, Vietnam and the Kingdom of Cambodia officially established diplomatic relations. This was a significant political event, laying a solid foundation for the sustainable and long-term development of relations between Vietnam and Cambodia.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong stated that Vietnam and Cambodia are two close neighboring countries with a long-standing traditional friendship. The people of the two countries are like brothers, sharing joys and sorrows. The benevolent nature has created the Mekong River, flowing through both countries, irrigating the vast fields along its banks, nurturing the people, and bringing prosperity to the people of Cambodia and Vietnam.

"The Mekong River has witnessed and continues to witness the ever-strengthening friendship and solidarity between the people of the two countries. The past 50 years have been sufficient to prove that Vietnam and Cambodia have a close, inseparable relationship, relying on each other, always standing shoulder to shoulder, sharing joys and sorrows in the struggle against a common enemy to achieve national independence, overthrow the genocidal regime, and develop the country," the General Secretary emphasized.

The General Secretary affirmed that this achievement has become a sacred symbol, an invaluable shared asset of the two countries that present and future generations have the responsibility to protect, preserve, and develop. This is not only our responsibility to the history of the two countries and two peoples, but also for the sustainable development and bright future of Cambodia and Vietnam.

The General Secretary expressed confidence that, with the significant achievements that the people of both countries have made in their respective development and in the good and effective cooperation between the two countries in recent times, with the high-level agreements reached during this state visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia and the joint efforts of both sides, the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship, facing great advantages, will certainly develop to a new level, meeting the earnest aspirations and practical interests of the people of both countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world.

According to VOV