Then Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) welcomes his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen during the latter's visit to Vietnam in October 2019 (Photo: VNA) The visit will be the firstto Cambodia by the State leader of Vietnam since the Vietnamese leadership wascompleted after the 13th National Party Congress in January 2021. Itwill also be the first visit to Cambodia by a foreign head of state this year.
The trip aims to implementthe foreign policy identified at the 13th National Party Congress,which is treasuring and developing relations with neighbouring countries. Ittakes place amid the continued growth of the two countries’ neighbourliness,solidarity, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation though bothhave been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is also one of the firstactivities marking the “Vietnam - Cambodia, Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Year”and the 55th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (June24, 1967 - 2022).
Vietnamese Ambassador toCambodia Nguyen Huy Tang said during the visit, the two sides will reviewcooperation outcomes over the past years, exchange views on the regional andinternational issues of common concern, and discuss measures for addressingdifficulties and obstacles to promote cooperation in all fields, especiallyeconomy. The countries’ leaders will also witness the signing of some importantcooperation documents.
He held that the Vietnam -Cambodia relations should focus on education to raise public awareness,particularly among the young, of the strategic significance, role, andimportance of bilateral ties so as to help strengthen political trust betweenthe two countries.
They should also step uppartnership in economic issues and make new breakthroughs in this regard;bolster cooperation in security, defence, and foreign affairs to jointlymaintain a peaceful and stable environment for both nations, as well as theregion and the world; and increase the exchange and collaboration between theirpeoples and localities, especially the ones situated along the sharedborderline, in order to help nurture the Vietnam - Cambodia friendship.
The visit will mark the startof the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Year 2022, Tang said, noting that it willhelp reinforce the political trust and multifaceted cooperation and developbilateral relations in a more substantive and effective manner.
The trip will alsodemonstrate Vietnam’s support for Cambodia’s internal and external activitiesin the time ahead such as the general elections in 2023 and the ASEAN Chairmanshipin 2022, according to the diplomat.
Meanwhile, CambodianAmbassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth described President Phuc’s visit as anillustration of the close-knit ties as well as friendship between the twocountries.
Cambodia supports and highlyvalues Vietnam’s successful chairmanship of ASEAN, organisation of meetings,and contribution to the elevation of the bloc’s cooperation to a new heightamid the COVID-19 pandemic, he went on.
He added the countries’ leadershave regularly held phone talks and online discussions, which has once againshown their solidarity and mutual assistance, along with Vietnam’s support forCambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship at a time the bloc is facing numerous challengeslike the competition among superpowers and the pandemic./.
VNA
