A meeting was held in Hanoi on June 24 to mark the 45 th anniversary of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties (June 24).

When addressing the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated that when Vietnam and Cambodia first established diplomatic ties on June 24, 1967, it marked a new chapter in the history of the relationship between the two neighbouring countries.

Over the past 45 years, both peoples have stood side by side and assisted each other in resistance wars against imperialism for national independence in the past and in the cause of national construction at present, he said.

The Vietnamese and Cambodian people always embedded in their mind the Cambodian Revolution’s resounding victory on January 7, 1979 over the genocidal Pol Pot regime that has helped Cambodia escape from the catastrophe of destruction and revive the country, the deputy PM said.

He added the great services and sacrifice of both nations in the struggle, including those of Vietnam ’s volunteer soldiers and experts, contributed to boosting the solidarity and traditional friendship between the two countries and people.

Deputy PM Phuc also said the two countries’ relations have turned to a new development step.

With the aim of building a “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-lasting stability” relationship, ties between two countries have been unceasingly consolidated and developed in all fields, bringing in practical benefits to the two people and making positive contributions to peace, stability and cooperation in the region, Phuc said.

He also affirmed that the solidarity and traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia became an invaluable asset of the two nations.

On behalf of the Cambodian government’s delegation, Sim Vanna, Secretary of State at the Council Ministers, stressed the fine, long-lasting relations between the two countries even before the official establishment of their diplomatic ties.

The two people are nourishing the sound solidarity, traditional friendship and cooperation, he said.

On this occasion, Sim Vanna expressed his profound thanks to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers for their valuable assistance while standing side by side with the Cambodian Solidarity Front for National Salvation in the struggle against the genocidal Khmer Rouge as well as to the Vietnamese people for their support for Cambodia ’s socio-economic development.

He said he believes that the close friendship and good neighbourliness and mutual respect between the two countries will be further consolidated and strongly developed, thus serving the two nations’ interests as well as maintaining peace, stability and prosperity.-VNA