President’s visits to Laos, Cambodia – a success: Deputy FM

Hanoi (VNA) – The State visits to Laos and Cambodia of President Tran Dai Quang delivered the Vietnamese new leadership’s determination and wishes to continually cement and develop the time-honoured friendship and comprehensive cooperation with the two neighbouring countries.

Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Hong Nam made the statement when talking with the press about the outcomes of the President’s visit to Laos from June 12-14 and his trip to Cambodia on June 15-16.

According to Nam, the outcomes reached during the tour, the first foreign activity made by Tran Dai Quang as the State President, are extremely important to the relations between Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia.

Important talks and meetings and other sideline activities have generated a consensus between the President and top Lao and Cambodian leaders on major policies and orientations to make the bilateral relations grow further.

The Lao and Cambodia leaders affirmed they view Vietnam as the most important traditional and special partner.

“Vietnam and Laos enjoy a rare, pure, and special relationship in the world,” the diplomat quoted President Tran Dai Quang’s words when he met with the Lao leaders.

Meanwhile, Cambodian King and leaders stated that Cambodia always bears in mind the support of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers that freed Cambodia from the Pol Pot genocidal regime in 1979.

Deputy FM Nam told reporters that during the visits, President Quang and Lao and Cambodian leaders stressed the need for continuing efforts to nurture and develop the bilateral relations, thus contributing to bringing about practical benefits for their peoples.

They agreed to continue educating young generations on the relations.

The Lao and Cambodian leaders spoke highly of Vietnam’s investments as contributions to each country’s growth and poverty reduction. However, they emphasised the necessity to carry out appropriate policies and mechanisms to create a clearer legal corridor for investors, Nam stated.

Potential for bilateral cooperation remains huge, they said, stressing the need for extra efforts to increase the Vietnam-Laos trade turnover to 2 billion USD and the Vietnam-Cambodia trade turnover to 5 billion USD.

Both Laos and Cambodia agreed that the regional situation is developing complicatedly. They encouraged the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, and the need to restrain and avoid using or threatening to use force and follow international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

They committed to coordinating with other Mekong River Commission countries to ensure the sustainable use and management of the river’s water resources.

During the tour, the President met with representatives of the Vietnamese community and businesses in Laos and Cambodia, who vowed to do more for their host countries’ growth and ties with Vietnam, the diplomat stated.

According to the official, the outcomes of the visits created a firm foundation to lift the growing neighbourly, time-honoured friendship and all-round cooperation between Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia to a new height.-VNA