Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits Cambodia: Solidarity for the prosperity of each country

At the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will pay an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia from November 8-13.

This is Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's first official visit to Cambodia as Prime Minister and the first visit by a key Vietnamese leader to Cambodia during the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the 45th Anniversary of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen's "Journey to Overthrow the Pol Pot Genocide Regime" (June 20, 1977 - June 20, 2022). Photo: VGP

The visit took place in the context of the special relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia that has been continuously nurtured and developed since it was officially established 55 years ago. The two countries are promoting relations under the motto of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability”.

The visit once again affirms the consistent viewpoint of the two countries always holding hands in solidarity and striving to cooperate for prosperity in each country.

The two sides regularly maintain high-level contacts, exchanges and bilateral cooperation mechanisms through all channels. The cooperation between ministries, branches and localities of the two countries is increasingly close and substantive. Cooperation in the fields of security and defense continues to be strengthened; the two sides firmly adhere to the principle of not allowing any hostile forces to use the territory of one country to harm the security and interests of the other. On the basis of the Treaties, Agreements and agreements of the two countries' High-level Leaders, the competent agencies, authorities and people of the border areas of the two sides strive to build a common border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

Economic, trade and investment relations have recently developed positively and achieved encouraging results. Bilateral trade turnover in 2021 reached 9.54 billion USD, an increase of more than 79% compared to 2020; in the first 10 months of 2022, it reached over 8.5 billion USD, a sharp increase compared to the same period in 2021. To date, Vietnam has 188 valid investment projects in Cambodia, maintaining its leading position in ASEAN and in the top 5 countries with the largest direct investment in Cambodia.

The leaders of the two countries also pledged to continue creating favorable conditions for the two countries' citizens to live in each other's territory, in accordance with the laws of each country and the spirit of friendly neighborly relations. Other areas of cooperation continue to be promoted. In the process of implementing foreign policy and international integration, the two countries have also coordinated well at international, regional and sub-regional forums, especially in 2022 when Cambodia is assuming the role of ASEAN Chair, together making active contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development of the ASEAN Community as well as in the region and the world.

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth said that the goal of the two countries in the coming time is to continue to strengthen solidarity and cooperation. As countries around the world have just controlled the Covid-19 epidemic, this is a good opportunity for the two countries to develop together in all forums, continuing to support each other in foreign affairs activities in the region as well as in the world. Both Vietnam and Cambodia are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Cambodia's success as the rotating Chair of ASEAN this year cannot be without Vietnam's contribution, based on the spirit of "mutual assistance" of ASEAN.

Regarding bilateral relations, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently agreed to increase trade turnover between the two countries to 10 billion USD in 2022. In addition, the two countries agreed to build the Vietnam - Cambodia border into a border of peace, friendship and cooperation; ensuring exchange, cooperation and trade of goods of people living on both sides of the border, with the common goal of solidarity and mutual development.

Today, in the context of many complex and unpredictable changes in the world and the region, both countries are deeply aware of the need to further strengthen solidarity, cooperation and mutual assistance for the prosperity of each country.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang said that the two countries should continue to promote strong cooperation in the political field to ensure the overall orientation of the bilateral relationship, and promote the education of the people of the two countries, especially the young generation, about the role, importance and strategic significance of the Vietnam - Cambodia relationship as well as the vital significance of this relationship. Thereby consolidating and enhancing political trust, creating a solid social foundation for promoting and strengthening the comprehensive relationship between the two countries. Along with that, promoting cooperation in the fields of security, defense and foreign affairs. These are important pillars in the bilateral relationship, contributing to maintaining an environment for the development of the two countries; promoting economic cooperation, creating new momentum, and creating resources to ensure the sustainable development of the Vietnam - Cambodia relationship.

On that basis, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia continues to consolidate and deepen the solidarity, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.

During the visit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is expected to hold talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, attend the Vietnam - Cambodia Trade and Investment Promotion Forum with Prime Minister Hun Sen, meet with King Norodom Sihamoni, Senate President Say Chhum, National Assembly President Heng Samrin and meet with a number of senior Cambodian leaders.

Certainly, the relationship between the two countries in the coming time will continue to develop well and bring about many practical results in accordance with the motto "good neighbors, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability"./.