Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang met with Great Supreme Patriarchs Tep Vong and Bour Kry on December 24 during his State visit to Cambodia.

He said the close cooperation between Buddhists of the two countries has contributed importantly to strengthening bilateral friendship and solidarity, expressing hopes that the Great Supreme Patriarchs, with their role and prestige, will help further the ties.

He visited the Cho Ray-Phnom Penh hospital, a joint venture facility that has been operating since January, 2014, providing free medical services for 1,500 poor patients in Phnom Penh. The hospital is working with Ho Chi Minh City’s Health Department to offer eye surgery to 100 others.

The President asked Vietnamese and Cambodian doctors and nurses to continue coordinating and sharing experience to make the hospital’s operation a success.

While there, the Vietnamese leader also held a working session of representatives from the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Cambodia (AVIC).

He received proposals relating to the completion of procedures to make the two countries’ investment protection and promotion agreement formally effective, the early signing of an agreement on double taxation avoidance, and the further amending of an agreement on goods and services exchanges at border areas.

The President congratulated the Vietnamese business community on making the country the fifth largest investor in Cambodia with 128 projects worth 3.36 billion USD.

However, potential for further collaboration remains huge, he stated, affirming that the country will adopt measures and strategies to facilitate Vietnamese stable and long-term investments in Cambodia for mutual, equal benefits.

He asked Vietnamese businesses to make further efforts to improve and expand their operations, strictly obey Cambodia’s laws and customs, and contribute more to local social welfare activities and poverty reduction.-VNA