Cambodian PM’s visit to further expand traditional friendship: top diplomat

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea (left) grants an interview to the Việt Nam News Agency in Phnom Penh. VNA photo

PHNOM PENH – The official visit to Việt Nam from December 11-12 by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet will continue to strengthen and further expand traditional friendship between the two countries, said Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea.

In an interview granted to the Việt Nam News Agency’s correspondents in Phnom Penh, the top diplomat highlighted the importance of the visit, saying this will be the Cambodian leader’s first visit to an ASEAN member country since he took office in August.

During a short period of time, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet had four meetings with his Vietnamese counterpart at international forums and conferences, he said, adding in 2022, Chairman of the National Assembly of Việt Nam Vương Đình Huệ and Prime Minister of Việt Nam Phạm Minh Chính visited Cambodia.

According to Sok Chenda Sophea, in addition to mutual visits, Việt Nam and Cambodia have also promoted their coordination in multilateral frameworks. The two countries attended meetings of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), Lancang-Mekong cooperation framework and ASEAN, during which the two countries discussed collaboration in the fields of economy, diplomacy, security, health care and transportation. They also talked about regional and world issues of shared concern, typically food security in the current context, at bilateral meetings.

In the time to come, the two countries must continue to foster their fine relationship to bring development and prosperity to their people, he noted.

Looking back on the special relationship over the past 60 years, he said the relationship had become closer, and the two countries were looking forward to a longer future. The people of Cambodia and Việt Nam supported and helped each other during the wars. The year 1979 was a historical milestone when Việt Nam helped Cambodia overthrow the genocidal regime.

Despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries had still seen bustling trade activities, with two-way trade hitting US$10.57 billion in 2022, more than double the figure of $5 billion recorded in 2020.

The two neighbours should make more efforts to boost trade, investment and tourism links, along with other areas such as industry and agriculture. VNA/VNS