Vietnam - Cambodia agree to sustainably develop the Mekong River

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

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

The leaders of Vietnam and Cambodia today agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation and coordinate closely with relevant countries and international organizations to ensure sustainable development, effective management and use of water resources in the Mekong River, for the harmonious interests of the people of the countries in the Mekong River basin, VNA reported, citing a Joint Statement on strengthening bilateral cooperation.

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

Accordingly, Vietnam and Cambodia pledged to make joint efforts to promote the development of friendly neighborly relations in a practical and long-term manner, and to closely coordinate with each other at international and regional forums, especially ASEAN, sub-regional cooperation mechanisms and the United Nations (UN), to contribute to promoting peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

The two sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security in the East Sea, resolving disputes by peaceful means, exercising self-restraint, not using or threatening to use 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 pledged to work closely within the ASEAN-China framework, fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Vietnam and Cambodia also highly appreciated the efforts of the Joint Commission on Land Border Demarcation and Marker Planting (JCLD) which has completed about 84% of the land border demarcation and marker planting work, reaffirming respect for and full implementation of border demarcation treaties and related border agreements signed between the two countries.

The two countries are determined to complete the construction of auxiliary markers and stakes in 2017 and complete the related demarcation and marker planting dossiers according to the regulations of the Border Demarcation and Marking Commission, moving towards signing a legal document to acknowledge the achievements of demarcation and marker planting. Vietnam and Cambodia will also seek solutions that are acceptable to both sides to resolve the remaining border sections in order to complete the demarcation and marker planting work on land as soon as possible to jointly build a common border of peace, stability, friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Cambodia said it will continue to take appropriate measures to ensure the legal and legitimate rights of Vietnamese nationals and to be treated equally like other foreigners in Cambodia, in accordance with Cambodian laws and regulations.

Economically, the two sides agreed to strive to increase two-way trade turnover to 5 billion USD before 2020.

The Cambodian side thanked Vietnam for donating Cambodia a National Assembly building worth 25 million USD during this visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

According to VNE