Vietnam, Cambodia boost bilateral cooperation
Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and Cambodian
Minister of Planning Chhay Than co-chaired the 8th ministerial-level meeting in
Phnom Penh on February 23.
The event aimed to
assess the cooperation between the two ministries and effective implementation
of commitments and instructions of the two countries’ high-ranking leaders in
2016, looking towards celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties
in 2017.
During the
meeting, the two sides noted with pleasure that the two ministries’ cooperation
in the past years, especially in 2016, contributed to boosting social-economic
development and strengthening the traditional relationship between Vietnam and
Cambodia.
They agreed that
despite changes in world and regional situation, with efforts from both sides, agreements
between the two governments have been implemented effectively and seen
significant outcomes.
The two countries have coordinated in removing difficulties hindering the land
border demarcation and marker planting.
In 2016, two-way trade reached about 2.8 billion USD and nearly one million
tourists travelled cross border.
Vietnam continued
providing an aid of 290 billion VND (13 million USD) for Cambodia to develop education
and training, including 1,090 scholarships worth 171 billion VND (7.7 million
USD).
On cooperation
in 2017, the two sides agreed to further cooperation in planning, in which
Vietnam will assist Cambodia in training, surveying and data collection to
calculate GDP for some provinces in the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam development
triangle.
They also
consented to speed up the drafting of the joint agreement on connecting Vietnamese
and Cambodian economies to submit to the two governments for approval.
From this year,
the two ministries will hold annual deputy minister-level meetings to boost
collaboration and the sharing of experience and professional knowledge.
During his stay
in Cambodia, Minister Dung paid a courtesy visit to Deputy Prime Minister Hor
Namhong.-VNA