The King of Cambodia hosted a state banquet to welcome the General Secretary.

On the evening of July 20th, King Norodom Sihamoni hosted a State banquet to welcome General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-level Vietnamese delegation on their State visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia.

At the State Banquet, King Norodom Sihamoni delivered a welcoming speech, and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong responded with a speech.

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

We are pleased to present the response speech by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong:

"Your Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni,

Distinguished leaders of the Senate, the National Assembly, and the Royal Government of Cambodia,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are deeply grateful for the noble and warm sentiments and kind words of King Norodom Sihamoni regarding Vietnam and its people, and for the good neighborly relations, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between the two countries and peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia.

On behalf of the high-level Vietnamese delegation and in my own name, I sincerely thank 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 me and the high-level Vietnamese delegation, a welcome filled with close neighborly affection.

I was invited by the King to visit the Kingdom of Cambodia on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Fifty years ago, amidst the most difficult and fierce phase 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.

Returning to the Kingdom of Cambodia this time, I and the high-level Vietnamese delegation have witnessed firsthand the tremendous achievements and continuous development of this beautiful country. We warmly congratulate and firmly believe that, under the wise reign of King Norodom Sihamoni and the insightful leadership of the Senate, the National Assembly, and the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Cambodian people will continue to achieve even greater and more comprehensive successes in national construction and development, the international standing of the Kingdom of Cambodia will continue to be enhanced, and it will continue to make positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong delivers a speech in response. Photo: VNA

Your Majesty,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Over more than 30 years of reform, Vietnam has also achieved great and historically significant accomplishments in building and defending the Fatherland. With the goal of "a prosperous people, a strong nation, democracy, fairness, and civilization," we advocate for the continued comprehensive and synchronized acceleration of the reform process and the consistent implementation of an independent, self-reliant, peaceful, cooperative, and developmental foreign policy, striving to soon transform Vietnam into a fundamentally modern industrialized nation.

We are deeply aware that Vietnam's victories in the struggle for national liberation and reunification in the past, as well as its achievements in the current process of renovation, construction, and defense of the Fatherland, are inseparable from the support and assistance of international friends, especially the great and effective support and assistance of the governments and people of neighboring countries, including the brotherly Kingdom of Cambodia.

On this momentous occasion, on behalf of the Party, State, and people of Vietnam, I would like to once again express my profound gratitude for the sincere support and invaluable assistance that the late King Norodom Sihanouk, King Norodom Sihamoni, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Government, and all the people of Cambodia have given to Vietnam throughout history. We, today and future generations of Vietnamese people, will never forget this heartfelt and selfless assistance.

Your Majesty,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Vietnam and Cambodia are two close neighboring countries with a long-standing tradition of friendship. The people of the two countries are like brothers, sharing joys and sorrows. The benevolent nature of the Mekong River has flowed through both countries, irrigating 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. Today, we are extremely pleased with the positive results of the talks and meetings between me and the King and leaders of Cambodia.

In the spirit of solidarity, friendship, mutual understanding, and respect, both sides reached a high degree of consensus on all issues of common concern; expressing joy and great pride in the 50-year-old friendly neighborly relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia, which has overcome challenges and achieved comprehensive, great, and important results in line with the motto "Good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability." The past 50 years have also 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 their countries.

That 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 peoples, but also for the sustainable development and bright future of Cambodia and Vietnam. As King Norodom Sihamoni affirmed during his visit to Vietnam in September 2012, "Cambodia and Vietnam are two inseparable countries; the precious relationship between the two countries needs to be fostered during the period of national construction and development of each country."

We firmly believe 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 my 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.

In this solemn atmosphere, filled with solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia, I propose that you all raise your glasses:

- We wish Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk good health and a long life!

- We wish King Norodom Sihamoni good health, a long life, and success in his exceptionally high position!

- Wishing the leaders of the Senate, Parliament, the Royal Government, and all of you good health, happiness, and success!

- May the Kingdom of Cambodia prosper and its people enjoy well-being and happiness!

May the traditional friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia forever flourish and endure for generations to come!

According to Vietnamnet.vn