Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong (L) and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (Photo: VNA)Phnom Penh (VNA) – Party General Secretary and President NguyenPhu Trong held talks with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in Phnom Penh onFebruary 25, during his ongoing state-level visit to Cambodia.
The Cambodian King welcomed the Vietnamese leader and described the trip as asignificant historical event as the two countries just celebrated the 40thanniversary of the victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime.
It is also the first foreign visit of the Vietnamese Party and State leader inhis new position, which illustrates the special sentiment and solidarity ofVietnam and Cambodia, the King said.
He expressed his belief that the visit will open up a new period of developmentfor the two countries’ solidarity, traditional friendship and multifacetedcooperation.
The Cambodian monarch thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for theirvaluable support for Cambodia during their national liberation and theirgetting rid of genocide, as well as as more recently their nationalreconstruction and development.
He affirmed that Vietnamese people are great, reliable friends of Cambodiansand that the Cambodian people will be good neighbours to Vietnam, standing sideby side with the Vietnamese people.
The King pledged to continue doing his utmost to nurture and promote theclose-knit relations between Vietnam and Cambodia.
He expressed his pleasure and admiration at the remarkable achievements thatVietnam has gained in the cause of reform, considering this a great source ofencouragement for Cambodia in the cause of national building and development.
He was confident that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, theVietnamese people will go on to gain further accomplishments towards realisingthe target of building a prosperous population; a strong country; and anequitable, democratic, and civilised society.
Appreciating the warm reception he has received, the Party and State leadersaid he is happy to visit Cambodia and meet King Norodom Sihamoni again, aswell as witness the significant achievements of the Cambodian people over thepast few years, particularly the successful organisation of the election of thesixth National Assembly and the establishment of a new parliament andgovernment.
He expressed hisbelief that under the leadership of the King and the Cambodian RoyalGovernment, local people will continue building their country toward harmony,independence, neutrality, democracy, social growth, and friendship with allnations – particularly its neighbours.
Reiterating thetradition of mutual support and solidarity shared between the two peoples, theleader expressed his gratitude for Cambodia’s assistance to Vietnam during itspast struggle for national independence and reunification.
Reviewing the growthof bilateral relations over the past more than five decades, the two leaders spokewith delight on the important and comprehensive outcomes resulting from the twonations’ relations of neigbourliness, friendship and special solidarity.
According to them, thebilateral political relations have been continuously fortified via regularvisits made by Vietnamese and Cambodian high-ranking leaders to theirrespective countries, while economic cooperation has also been thriving, bringingpractical benefits to their people. Defence-security and foreign diplomacyaffiliations have followed suit, and are now important pillars of bilateralcollaboration.
The two countries havealways supported each other and worked together at international forums,actively contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and inthe world, they noted.
They said that the outcomes of friendship and comprehensive cooperation betweenthe two countries in the recent past, sourced from the long-lasting closeneighbourliness, have become an invaluable treasure to both nations, as well asa firm foundation and strong driving force to put Vietnam-Cambodia ties into anew stage of development.
They affirmed thatprotecting, preserving and developing the valuable relationship is theresponsibility of both countries and peoples, especially the youngergenerations.
The two leaders alsoaffirmed to spare no efforts in fostering the Vietnam-Cambodia traditionalfriendship and comprehensive cooperation so as to hand over the relationship tofuture generations.
On the occasion, theVietnamese leader thanked the Government, National Assembly and Senate ofCambodia for their attention and facilitation of the Vietnamese community in thecountry, while asking the Cambodian King to continue directing the creation of morefavourable conditions for them, especially the legal status ofVietnamese-Cambodians.
He presented 100 setsof computers to the King as gifts to Cambodia’s educational establishments.
Trong wished the Kinggood health and a long life, while hoping that the King would continue to makegreater contributions to the traditional friendship of the two peoples. Heinvited the King and the Queen Mother to make a visit or leisure tour toVietnam. King Norodom Sihamoni thanked and accepted the invitation withpleasure.
The same day, Trongand the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation laid flowers at the Norodom SihanoukMonument, as well as visiting Queen Mother Nordom Monineath Sihanouk.
Later the day, KingNorodom Sihamoni hosted a banquet at the Royal Palace in honour of PartyGeneral Secretary and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and the delegation.–VNA
VNA
