Cambodian King begins state visit to Vietnam

Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni arrived in Hanoi on November 28 morning, beginning his two-day state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong.

Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni (L) arrives in Hanoi on November 28 morning, beginning his two-day state visit to Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)
Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni (L) arrives in Hanoi on November 28 morning, beginning his two-day state visit to Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni arrived in Hanoi on November 28 morning, beginning his two-day state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong.

The King and his entourage were greeted at Noi Bai International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Ha Minh Hai, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang, and other officials.

Norodom Sihamoni is accompanied by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Royal Palace, and Supreme Advisor to the King Samdech Mahamontrei Kuy Sophal, Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun, and Supreme Advisor to the King and Deputy Chief of the King's Office Chan Samdarind, among others.

Since his ascension to the throne on October 29, 2004, or after his 20 years of reign, King Norodom Sihamoni made three trips to Vietnam in 2006, 2012, and 2018. And, this time marks his fourth visit to Vietnam.

During this visit, the King will hold talks with all of Vietnam's highest-level leaders, strengthening political trust and promoting cooperation in various fields, including economics, culture and education.

Vietnam and Cambodia officially established diplomatic relations on June 24, 1967, and their friendship has ever since been continuously nurtured and developed. In 2005, leaders of the two countries agreed on a new approach to their relations following the motto of "good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability". Guided by this principle, their relationship has been further strengthened across all fields.

High-level exchanges between the two countries have remained frequent in various forms, playing a vital role in guiding the relationship between the two countries.

Vietnam-Cambodia bilateral trade has grown substantially, with an average annual increase of over 20% from 2015 to 2022, surpassing 10 billion USD in 2022. Despite the challenges posed by the global economic downturn in 2023, two-way trade still reached 8.57 billion USD. By October this year, the figure had reached 8.35 billion USD, with both countries aiming to achieve 20 billion USD in trade in the near future.

Vietnam remains the largest investor from ASEAN and one of the top five investors globally in Cambodia, with 205 active projects worth a total registered capital of 2.94 billion USD as of July 2024. Meanwhile, Cambodia had run 38 investment projects in Vietnam, with a total registered capital of 76.8 million USD as of October./.

VNA

See more

Hugues Tertrais, Honorary Professor at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University and former Director of the Centre for Contemporary Asian History (Photo published by VNA)

Historical foundation, future momentum for Vietnam–France ties

The historical dialogue between Vietnam and France had at times been very tense, but this process helped the two sides understand and respect each other better. Greater mutual understanding built over time has created conditions for cooperation at many levels today, a French scholar has said.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and his spouse meet with officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Russia in Moscow on September 7, (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary and President To Lam meets Vietnamese community in Russia

In particular, the Politburo recently issued Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW on overseas Vietnamese affairs, General Secretary and President To Lam, emphasising that in the time ahead, the Party and State will continue to improve institutions, and adopt comprehensive, open and breakthrough mechanisms and policies to connect with, attract and effectively mobilise the resources of overseas Vietnamese, particularly intellectuals, experts, entrepreneurs, scientists and young people.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Trinh Duc Hai (R) grants an interview to the Vietnam News Agency (Photo: VNA)

Fresh impetus for Vietnam - France cooperation on new journey

Vietnam-France relations have been nurtured over generations through historical, cultural, educational and scientific ties, as well as extensive people-to-people exchanges. Despite the ups and downs of history, the two countries have successfully built a relationship of friendship, equality and mutual respect, looking towards the future together.

Dr. Benoît de Tréglodé, Director (Africa - Asia - Middle East) at the Institute of Strategic Research (IRSEM) under the French Ministry of Armed Forces. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-France cooperation hoped to be expanded

Vietnam and France should also build a forward-looking, mutually beneficial partnership in which stronger economic and industrial ties serve as an indispensable foundation, said Dr. Benoît de Tréglodé, Director (Africa - Asia - Middle East) at the Institute of Strategic Research (IRSEM) under the French Ministry of Armed Forces.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (R) and Chairman of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Gennady Zyuganov at the meeting in Moscow on September 7 (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets Russian Communist Party chief

To deepen the two parties' ties at bilateral and multilateral levels, the top Vietnamese leader proposed both sides effectively follow the agreement on further expanding and deepening inter-Party relations, especially by increasing high-level delegation exchanges and promptly sharing information on each Party's key activities.

Party General Secretary To Lam (right) receives AAFV Chairman Nguyen Hai Nam during his visit to France in 2024. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader’s upcoming visit to renew vitality of Vietnam-France friendship

Chairman of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV) Nguyen Hai Nam said the trip demonstrates that France is truly a special partner of Vietnam in Europe. France can serve as a gateway for Vietnam to access the European Union (EU), while Vietnam can be France’s entry point for deeper engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse, Ngo Phuong Ly, arrive at Vnukovo international airport in Moscow on September 7 afternoon (local time). (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary and President To Lam begins state visit to Russia

As scheduled, the top Vietnamese leader will receive Chairman of the Communist Party of Russia Gennady Ziuganov, the Russian War Veterans’ Association and the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association, and have a meeting with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Russia.

President of the Vietnamese National Assembly Tran Thanh Man (right) and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea Kim Min Seok meet in Seoul on September 7. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam's top legislator meets with Democratic Party of Korea leader

Lauding the friendship and sound cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the DPK in recent years, NA President Tran Thanh Man called on both sides to continue effectively following their 2019 cooperation agreement, and foster political trust and mutual understanding by maintaining all-level delegation exchanges and meetings.

National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man and Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Cho Jeong-sik hold talks in Seoul on September 7. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese NA President holds talks with RoK counterpart

NA President Man urged the RoK legislature to encourage Korean companies to expand investment in Vietnam in priority areas, including infrastructure, semiconductors, large-scale AI data centres, energy and seaports; create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to engage more deeply in the RoK’s manufacturing supply chains.