Việt Nam, Cambodia, Laos bond holds strategic importance: foreign ministry spokeswoman

Spokeswoman for the Vietnamese foreign ministry Phạm Thu Hằng. — VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The bond of friendship, solidarity, and trust between the three countries Cambodia, Laos, and Việt Nam is a great value for all three nations, spokeswoman for the Vietnamese foreign ministry Phạm Thu Hằng said on Thursday.

The bond holds strategic significance in the efforts of each country to build, protect, and develop, contributing to the growth of the ASEAN Community, the spokesperson stated in response to the press’ queries on the matter.

“Over 25 years of formation and development, cooperation within the Cambodia-Laos-Việt Nam Development Triangle has contributed to economic and trade development, as well as people-to-people exchanges between the three countries. The cooperation plays an important role in improving the living standards for the people of all three countries, especially those living in this area.”

The diplomat also commented that Việt Nam will continue to closely coordinate with Cambodia and Laos to organise the Cambodia-Laos-Việt Nam Triangle Summit slated to be held in Cambodia this December.

The initiative to establish the Development Triangle was proposed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the first high-level meeting of the three Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Laos, and Việt Nam in Vientiane in 1999.

The Cambodia-Laos-Việt Nam Development Triangle is an area at the tri-border point of the three nations, and covers 13 provinces: Ratanakiri, Stung Treng, Mondulkiri, and Kracheh in Eastern Cambodia; Attapeu, Salavan, Sekong, and Champasak in Southern Laos; and Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, and Bình Phước in the Central Highlands of Việt Nam. — VNS