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 first to Cambodia by the State leader of Vietnam since the Vietnamese leadership was completed after the 13th National Party Congress in January 2021. It will also be the first visit to Cambodia by a foreign head of state this year.
The trip aims to implement the foreign policy identified at the 13th National Party Congress, which is treasuring and developing relations with neighbouring countries. It takes place amid the continued growth of the two countries’ neighbourliness, solidarity, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation though both have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is also one of the first activities marking the “Vietnam - Cambodia, Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Year” and the 55th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (June 24, 1967 - 2022).
Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang said during the visit, the two sides will review cooperation outcomes over the past years, exchange views on the regional and international issues of common concern, and discuss measures for addressing difficulties and obstacles to promote cooperation in all fields, especially economy. The countries’ leaders will also witness the signing of some important cooperation 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, and importance of bilateral ties so as to help strengthen political trust between the two countries.
They should also step up partnership in economic issues and make new breakthroughs in this regard; bolster cooperation in security, defence, and foreign affairs to jointly maintain a peaceful and stable environment for both nations, as well as the region and the world; and increase the exchange and collaboration between their peoples and localities, especially the ones situated along the shared borderline, in order to help nurture the Vietnam - Cambodia friendship.
The visit will mark the start of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Year 2022, Tang said, noting that it will help reinforce the political trust and multifaceted cooperation and develop bilateral relations in a more substantive and effective manner.
The trip will also demonstrate Vietnam’s support for Cambodia’s internal and external activities in the time ahead such as the general elections in 2023 and the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2022, according to the diplomat.
Meanwhile, Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth described President Phuc’s visit as an illustration of the close-knit ties as well as friendship between the two countries.
Cambodia supports and highly values Vietnam’s successful chairmanship of ASEAN, organisation of meetings, and contribution to the elevation of the bloc’s cooperation to a new height amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he went on.
He added the countries’ leaders have regularly held phone talks and online discussions, which has once again shown their solidarity and mutual assistance, along with Vietnam’s support for Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship at a time the bloc is facing numerous challenges like the competition among superpowers and the pandemic./.
VNA
