Key leaders of Vietnam’ southern Tay Ninh province and Cambodia’s Kampong Cham, Svay Rieng and Pray Veng provinces met on January 24 to review their solidarity, friendship and cooperation over the past time.

Addressing the event, which took place in Tay Ninh province shortly before the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Chairperson of the Tay Ninh provincial People’s Committee, said economic cooperation and cultural exchange between Tay Ninh and the Cambodian localities have developed fruitfully recently.

Particular progress has been made in healthcare, education, transport, farming, border trade and the repatriation of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers who laid down their lives in Cambodia, she said.

The official reflected on an international seminar named “Tay Ninh: A Gateway for Trade Border Development between Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos” which was jointly held by Tay Ninh province and the trade ministries of the three countries in December last year. She said that the event had been a boost to long-term investment cooperation between neighbouring businesses.

Major achievements have been recorded in border demarcation and marker planting, contributing to stabilising security on each side and building a common border line of development, peace and friendship, she said.

Thuy affirmed that the Tay Ninh authorities have always attached importance to enhancing the fine neighbourly relationship with bordering Cambodian provinces.

Rua Chhay, Svay Rieng province’s Deputy Governor, praised the successes reaped by the Party and State of Vietnam, and Tay Ninh province in particular, in spurring economic growth, improving people’s living standards and raising the country’s prestige in the region and the world at large.

Local authorities of the neighbouring provinces have actively worked with each other to ensure security, safety and order at border areas in the spirit of respecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of each country, he said.

He noted the great support of the Tay Ninh authorities to the three Cambodian localities in many areas, including planting sugar-cane trees, preventing and controlling diseases plaguing animals and poultry and training medical workers.-VNA