The cooperation agreement recently signed between the Vietnamese and Cambodian National Assemblies will contribute to further increasing bilateral cooperation and friendship between the two countries in the time to come.

President Truong Tan Sang made his remark at a reception for Heng Samrin, President of the Cambodian National Assembly (NA) in Hanoi on July 23.

Sang noted with pleasure the development of the fine relations between both nations recently, with regular exchanges of high-ranking delegations and developing ties in national defence, culture, economics and investment.

He described Heng Samrin’s visit as a vivid manifestation in promoting traditional friendship between the two countries.

Heng Samrin expressed his delight at visiting Vietnam at a time when the two countries are preparing activities to mark the 45th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

He also thanked the Vietnamese people for saving the Cambodian people from a genocidal regime in the past as well as the cause of national liberation, construction and defence at present.

The top Cambodian legislator said he believes the Cambodian – Vietnamese traditional friendship will increasingly develop for the benefit of the two nations and for peace and friendship in the region and the world.

At a reception of the top Cambodian legislator in Hanoi the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung underscored Vietnam’s support to Cambodia as ASEAN Chair in 2012 and its candidacy for the non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for the 2013-2014 tenure.

Vietnam attaches importance to its traditional friendship with Cambodia and will exert its utmost effort to further deepen its cooperative ties with Cambodia in various fields, said the Vietnamese PM.

Dung said he hopes the two sides will effectively implement cooperation agreements signed by the two countries’ leaders, especially promoting educational, healthcare and cultural cooperation between the two countries’ bordering provinces.

He proposed both sides closely coordinate in effectively organising activities to mark the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2012, completing land border demarcation and marker planting to build a border of peace, cooperation, friendship and development.

The PM also proposed the Cambodian NA continue facilitating overseas Vietnamese living and working in Cambodia , thus contributing to lifting up the traditional friendship between the two countries.

For his part, Cambodian NA leader Heng Samrin said his visit aims to further bolster the two countries’ traditional friendship.

He said he believes that the land border demarcation and marker planting between the two countries will be completed as scheduled.

He took the occasion to thank Vietnam’s backing to Cambodia’s candidacy for the non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for the 2013-2014 tenure.

Also on July 23, Cambodian NA President Heng Samrin was received by President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Huynh Dam in Hanoi who affirmed that the VFF always pays attention to Cambodia’s development and achievements.

Heng Samrin, who is also President of the National Council of the United Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland, affirmed that the organisation will join the Cambodian Party, State, National Assembly and People to do their best for the solidarity of the two peoples and for the development of the Vietnam-Cambodia traditional friendship to a new height.

The VFF leader expressed his wish that the cooperation between the two fronts and nations will be further promoted.-VNA