Prime Minister Hun Sen meets with former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers

During his official visit to Vietnam from December 26-28, on the morning of December 27, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Sen met with 500 former experts and former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Cambodia. Attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Vu Xuan Hong, President of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association Vu Mao; and representatives of relevant agencies and sectors.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh welcomed Prime Minister Hun Sen to attend a meeting with former Vietnamese experts and volunteer soldiers. Photo: Doan Tan - VNA

At the meeting, representative of former volunteer soldiers and former Vietnamese expert Nguyen Van De recalled the years when Vietnamese volunteer soldiers fought side by side with the Cambodian people and revolutionary armed forces to escape the Pol Pot regime. Mr. Nguyen Van De emphasized: "During those memorable years, we will never forget the protection, care and close cooperation of the Cambodian cadres, soldiers and people. That is an extremely valuable common asset of our two peoples, and every citizen of the two countries must have the responsibility to protect and pass it on to the next generation."

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his delight at the positive developments in bilateral relations in recent times. The two countries are determined to deepen and bring the friendship and comprehensive cooperation to a new level. In that spirit, the two sides agreed to continue to maintain the exchange of visits and contacts between high-ranking leaders as well as between ministries, branches, localities and organizations of the two countries to enhance mutual understanding; agreed to continue to coordinate, create favorable conditions to promote the existing advantages of each country, deepen cooperation in all fields, especially in areas of strength such as: border trade, tourism, telecommunications, aviation, banking, oil and gas, industrial crops, agriculture, etc., striving to increase two-way trade turnover to 5 billion USD by 2015.

* On the same day, in Hanoi, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Sen met and talked with Vietnamese investors. Attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc; Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia Hor Nam Hong; and representatives of relevant ministries, branches and agencies of Vietnam and Cambodia.

At the meeting, Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Cambodia (AVIC) and the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) Tran Bac Ha said: Regarding the activities of Vietnamese investors in Cambodia, AVIC has demonstrated its role as a bridge in connecting investment and trade activities between Vietnam and Cambodia. The Association has built investment orientations, actively supported Vietnamese enterprises in implementing projects, contributing to promoting investment activities of Vietnam in Cambodia.

In parallel with business activities, AVIC is also interested in implementing social security programs for the community in the host country, with a total registered support of over 35 million USD, focusing on areas such as education, healthcare, support for the poor... In 2013 alone, the social security support budget of AVIC members was about 5 million USD.

On behalf of the Cambodian Government and people, Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked and appreciated Vietnamese investors, especially the role of the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Cambodia. Prime Minister Hun Sen hopes that in the coming time, Vietnamese businesses will continue to promote investment in Cambodia and share Vietnam's development experiences. The Prime Minister affirmed that Cambodia creates an increasingly favorable environment for Vietnamese investors and businesses.

According to baotintuc