(VOVworld)- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hunsen and his wife began a 3-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. Prime Minister Hunsen’s decision to select Vietnam as his first overseas trip following his re-election shows the Cambodian government’s respect for the relationship with Vietnam. The visit demonstrates the two countries’ leaders’ determination to strengthen the neighborliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
The relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia has been developing for a long time due to proximity, cultural similarities and common interests. In the current period, the two countries are pursuing a foreign policy of openness, diversification and multi-lateralization of international relations and cultivating the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between them.
Stepping up comprehensive partnership
With both countries’ determination and joint efforts, the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia has developed rapidly over the years both in scope and scale. This relationship has become an important factor in creating a peaceful and stable environment to boost socio-economic development in each country and in ensuring their national defense and sovereignty. The two countries have set up a cooperation framework of good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long lasting sustainability”. They have also signed 80 cooperative agreements in various fields and set up necessary cooperation mechanisms. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said:“The traditional friendship between the two countries has developed strongly despite ups and downs in history. The close relationship is reflected in the regular exchanges of the two countries’ leaders making it easier for localities, ministries and sectors to further their cooperation. People-to-people exchanges, especially the close relationship between people living along the border, have been strengthened”.
Economic, trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia has increased. Two-way trade turnover in 2012 reached 3.3 billion USD, 18% more than the previous year and totaled nearly 3 billion USD by October this year, up 8% from last year. Cooperation between localities has been stepped up. The two countries have cooperated in border demarcation and marker planting. The relationship between Vietnamese and Cambodian political and social organizations has been enhanced contributing to raising the awareness of the two countries’ peoples, especially the younger generation about the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation. Mr. Vu Mao is President of the Vietnamese- Cambodian Friendship Association.“The Vietnamese- Cambodian relationship is special and has experienced ups and downs. Therefore, the Friendship Association was set up to contribute to fostering the bilateral friendship, especially among the younger generation. This is very important. The Vietanmese- Cambodian Association, with its devotion and prestige, hopes to mobilize social participation in exchanges to help the two countries’ peoples learn more about the development of their respective countries”.
Strengthening cooperation in multi-lateral forums
The two countries have strengthened cooperation and mutual support at regional and global forums including cooperation between Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, the cooperation framework between Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, the Mekong-Sub region cooperation and cooperation programs in ASEAN, ASEM and the UN.
On the basis of the fine development of relationship between the two countries, Prime Minister Samdech Hunsen’s visit to Vietnam will contribute to furthering the good neighborliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. This will be an opportunity for the two countries’ leaders to exchange ways to further bilateral ties.