The friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia have been growing in depth with higher efficiency, Vietnam’s top legislator has said.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong made the comment during his reception for the out-going Cambodian Ambassador, Van Phon, in Hanoi on May 12.

He noted that economic ties, trade, and investment between the two countries, as grounded on fine political relations, have been growing unceasingly.

Localities have further stepped up their cooperation to bring into full play potential and advantages to serve the two countries’ interests, NA Chairman stressed.

He also referred to the two countries’ close coordination in many multilateral forums.

The NA Chairman lauded Ambassador Van Phon’s active and effective contributions to the promotion of bilateral ties during his working term, expressing hopes that he will continue to foster that time-honoured relations.

He affirmed that Vietnam will do its utmost to strengthen and further develop its traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia .

The Cambodian Ambassador said he was pleased to see new progress in the two countries’ traditional friendship and multi-dimensional cooperation during his working term in Vietnam .

The two countries’ two-way trade spiraled from 1.2 billion USD in 2007 to 1.6 billion USD in 2008 and is expected to reach 2 billion USD in 2010.

More than 50 Vietnamese businesses are investing in energy, telecommunications, tourism, and mining in Cambodia .

The two countries have made progress in the demarcation and planting of makers along the shared border, looking toward building the border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

The out-going ambassador said he hoped the National Assembly will help encourage Vietnamese businesses to inject more investment into Cambodia.