Opening a new era in Vietnam - Cambodia relations

The General Secretary's visit to Cambodia is of historic significance, opening a new era, bringing the relationship between the two countries to new heights.

At the invitation of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, today (July 20), General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong began a 3-day state visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia.

This is General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's first visit to Cambodia after the 12th National Party Congress.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. (Photo: Nguoi Lao Dong)

The visit is of historical significance, taking place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It is an important occasion for both sides to look back on the 50-year history of relations and open a new era, bringing the relationship between the two countries to new heights.

Vietnam and Cambodia are two close neighbors with a long-standing traditional relationship. 50 years ago, on the basis of the existing solidarity and friendship between the two countries, Vietnam and Cambodia officially established diplomatic relations.

In a telegram to Cambodian Head of State Norodom Sihanouk, President Ho Chi Minh stated that the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cambodia was a brilliant expression of the close friendship and solidarity in fighting. It was a historic event in the relationship between the two countries, a positive factor in maintaining peace in Indochina and Southeast Asia.

Over the past 50 years, overcoming many ups and downs of history and the events of the times, the relationship between the two countries has become increasingly close and strong, cultivated by generations of leaders and people of the two countries, tempered in reality by the efforts, blood and sacrifices of countless heroic martyrs as well as the efforts of many generations of Vietnamese and Cambodian people, becoming a priceless asset of the two peoples.

Today, with the motto of “good neighbors, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability”, the Vietnam - Cambodia relationship is still constantly developing in all fields. The two sides maintain the exchange of delegations at all levels. Exchanges between ministries, branches, localities and people-to-people exchanges take place regularly and continuously, contributing to consolidating and enhancing mutual trust and understanding between the leaders and people of the two countries.

Economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries has developed rapidly. Vietnam is currently one of Cambodia's leading economic partners. Two-way trade turnover in 2016 reached nearly 3 billion USD, and both sides are striving to soon reach the target of 5 billion USD.

Regarding investment, Vietnam currently has about 190 licensed investment projects in Cambodia in many fields with a total registered capital of nearly 3 billion USD. Vietnam is also the leading country in terms of number of tourists to Cambodia with 960,000 people in 2016.

Cooperation in the field of national security and defense between the two countries has been enhanced. Both sides pledged to implement a policy of not allowing any hostile forces to use their territory to threaten the security of the other country.

On the basis of the Treaties, Agreements and agreements of the two countries' senior leaders, the authorities, governments and people of the border localities on both sides are actively coordinating to implement the work of demarcation and marker planting on land.

To date, the two sides have completed more than 84% of the workload and are determined to work together to soon complete this work in order to build the two countries' border into a border of peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development.

Cooperation in the fields of education, training, health care and culture is also promoted by both sides. The two sides also closely coordinate with each other at international and regional forums.

This state visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong takes place in the context of Cambodia having just successfully organized the election of the 4th term Commune and Ward Councils.

The visit aims to affirm Vietnam’s consistent policy of always attaching importance to and giving high priority to consolidating and strengthening relations with Cambodia and the Cambodian People’s Party, promoting the relationship to become deeper, more stable and sustainable. The visit will also contribute to further promoting the effective implementation of cooperation agreements and treaties between the two countries.

The achievements over the past 50 years are the premise and foundation for the relationship between the two countries to continue to develop more strongly in the coming time. We firmly believe that, with a series of high-level talks and meetings within the framework of the visit, it will be an important occasion for the leaders of the two countries to look back on the past history, together open a new era, and bring the relationship between the two countries to new heights./.

According to VOV