(VOVworld)- On June 16, President Tran Dai Quang and his wife concluded a 5-day state visit to Laos and Cambodia. This was Mr. Quang’s first overseas trip as President of Vietnam and its results are important to the special strategic friendship between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

The visit was made at the invitation of Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounhang Vorachit and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. Vietnam and Laos are now anticipating the 55^th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties on September 5, 2017 and the 40^th anniversary of their Friendship and Cooperation Treaty on July 18, 2017. Vietnam and Cambodia will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic ties on June 24, 2017.

President Tran Dai Quang and Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounhang Vorachit reviewed guard of honor

Cementing their traditional relationship

During his stay in Laos and Cambodia, President Tran Dai Quang met with top leaders who said they consider Vietnam their most important partner and that their special traditional relationship was built with sacrifices by the three countries’ peoples. In Laos, President Quang told his hosts that bilateral ties are of vital importance, were created by the sacrifices of generations of revolutionaries and have become a priceless asset of the two peoples. The Cambodian King and leaders said that today’s Cambodia would have been impossible without the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who helped liberate Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979. The Vietnamese, Laos and Cambodian leaders vowed to continue to foster the relationship for the benefits of their peoples. They agreed on the need to educate the younger generation to inherit and promote this noble friendship and solidarity.

President Tran Dai Quang at the welcoming ceremony hosted by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni

Developing Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia comprehensive cooperation

President Quang’s visit achieved significant results in politics, diplomacy and economics. The Lao and Cambodia leaders said Vietnam’s investment projects there have contributed to economic growth, job generation, and poverty reduction. They called for efforts to increase trade revenue with Vietnam, and discuss linking their transportation systems and economies with each other and with Myanmar. Laos said it wants to expand the “One- stop-shop” model being implemented at the Lao Bao-Densavan border gate. Vietnam and Laos agreed to complete their 2016 plan of cooperation and their cooperative agreement for the 2016-2020 period, and to jointly organize a Lao Culture Week in Vietnam, and build President Ho Chi Minh Park in Vientiane.

Vietnam and Cambodia agreed to complete the agreements reached at the 14^th meeting of their joint committee and the 8^th conference on cooperation between border provinces.

Both Laos and Cambodia shared Vietnam’s view of the complicated regional situation and the need to encourage the peaceful settlement of disputes, restraint and the use of force abandonment in line with universal principles and laws, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Laos and Cambodia pledged to work closely with each other and with other members of the Mekong River Commission to ensure the management and sustainable use of the Mekong river water source.  

President Quang’s visit consolidates Vietnam’s traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos and the good neighborliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable cooperation with Cambodia.