Vietnam and Cambodia agree on sustainable development of the Mekong River.

Vietnam and Cambodia agreed on many areas of cooperation during General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong shakes hands with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. Photo: VNA.

Vietnamese and Cambodian leaders agreed today to continue strengthening cooperation and closely coordinating with relevant countries and international organizations to ensure sustainable development, management, and efficient use of water resources in the Mekong River, for the harmonious interests of the people of the Mekong River basin countries, according to a joint statement on strengthening bilateral cooperation, as reported by VNA.

This declaration was signed on the occasion of the Vietnamese General Secretary's state visit to Cambodia.

Accordingly, Vietnam and Cambodia are committed to jointly striving to promote the development of a substantive and long-lasting friendly neighborly relationship, coordinating closely with each other in international and regional forums, especially ASEAN, sub-regional cooperation mechanisms and the United Nations (UN), in order to contribute to promoting peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and security in the South China Sea, resolving disputes through peaceful means, exercising restraint, and refraining from the use or threat of force, in accordance with widely recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two countries committed to working closely within the ASEAN-China framework, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and reaching a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) as soon as possible.

Vietnam and Cambodia also highly appreciate the efforts of the Joint Committee on Land Border Demarcation (JPC), which has completed approximately 84% of the land border demarcation work, reaffirming their respect for and full implementation of the border demarcation treaties and related border agreements signed between the two countries.

Both countries are determined to complete the construction of auxiliary markers and boundary posts in 2017 and finalize the relevant border demarcation and marker placement documents in accordance with the regulations of the Joint Border Committee, moving towards signing a legal document to record the achievements of border demarcation and marker placement. Vietnam and Cambodia will also seek mutually acceptable solutions to definitively resolve the remaining border sections in order to complete the land border demarcation and marker placement work as soon as possible, so as to jointly build a peaceful, stable, friendly, and cooperative common border between the two countries.

Cambodia stated that it will continue to take appropriate measures to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese expatriates and to treat them equally as other foreign nationals in Cambodia, in accordance with Cambodian laws and regulations.

Economically, both sides agreed to strive to increase bilateral trade to $5 billion before 2020.

The Cambodian side thanked Vietnam for donating a 25 million USD National Assembly building to Cambodia during General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit.

According to VNE