The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), in conjunction with the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association in Hanoi, held a meeting in the capital city on November 9 to celebrate the 59 th anniversary of Cambodia’s Independence Day (Nov. 9, 1953 – Nov. 9, 2012).

Addressing the ceremony, President of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association Vu Mao extended warm greetings to Cambodian King, Royal Government and people, saying that over the past 59 years, Cambodia has gained many great achievements in all fields.

Under the leadership of the Cambodian Royal Government headed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, the country’s economy has developed unremittingly in recent years, leading to improvement in people’s lives, both materially and spiritually, he said.

Mao stressed that with the slogan “Fine neighbourhood, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability”, Vietnam-Cambodia relations have developed rapidly in all fields - in both width and depth. Many events have also been held to mark the 2012 Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year, contributing to further consolidating and strengthening the two countries’ traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation.

C hargé d'affaires of the Cambodian Embassy in Vietnam Samthan reviewed the struggle for national liberation of the three Indochinese countries, Vietnam ’s support for Cambodia in overthrowing the Pol Pot genocidal regime and in the country’s cause of national construction and development.

Also on November 9, a similar activity was held in Ho Chi Minh City by the VUFO and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association in the city.

Vietnam and Cambodia have enjoyed excellent developments in the relationship between the two countries in general, and between HCM City and Cambodia ’s cities and provinces in particular. Two-way trade turnover reached nearly 2.8 billion USD in 2011.

Now there are around 100 projects underway by Vietnam businesses in the neighbouring country, with a total investment of more than 2.2 billion USD, predominantly in the fields of telecommunications, banking, energy, the rubber industry and farm processing.-VNA