These are the first official visits by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Cambodia and the Philippines, which are made during the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022, marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and after Vietnam and the Philippines celebrated the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2021.
As ASEAN members, Vietnam and Cambodia and the Philippines have incessantly strengthened bilateral ties and cooperation in building the ASEAN Community.
In the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship, built in the spirit of good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation, the political relationship plays the key role. Meetings and exchanges at all levels have been increased recently. The two sides have worked together to hold many important events in the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022.
Economic cooperation continues to grow, with two-way trade in the first nine months of 2022 rising by 16.7%, compared to the same period last year. Vietnam currently has 198 active projects in Cambodia, ranking first in ASEAN and among the five largest foreign investors in Cambodia. Cooperation in defence, security, border affairs, education and training, science and technology, tourism and people-to-people exchange is also promoted.
Cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Cambodian National Assembly and Senate is developing synchronously and effectively on both bilateral and multilateral bases. The two sides maintain high-level delegation exchanges, committee-level exchanges and exchanges between friendship parliamentary groups, and share experience in law-making, supervision and decision-making on important national matters. At regional and global interparliamentary forums, the two sides enhance the exchange, consultation and coordination of viewpoints on regional and international issues.
The Vietnam-Philippines strategic partnership continues to develop well. The two sides affirm that they value the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, and agree to promote cooperation in the spirit of the strategic partnership. Economic cooperation is a bright spot with two-way trade reaching 6 billion USD in the first nine months of 2022. Cooperation in defence-security, maritime affairs, agriculture, education, tourism and people-to-people exchange is increasingly substantive and effective. The two countries collaborate effectively at regional and international forums and on many issues of shared interest. On parliamentary cooperation, the two sides maintain exchanges and meetings, affirming their wish to further enhance cooperation between the two parliaments.
The AIPA-43 General Assembly takes place at a time when the region and the world are witnessing many rapid and complex developments. Despite facing many challenges, ASEAN continues to see stability, solidarity and unity in many issues and has an important role in many major countries’ overall strategies in the region. Becoming an AIPA member in 1995, the Vietnamese National Assembly participated actively and proactively, made substantive and responsible contributions, and worked with ASEAN countries’ parliaments to enhance cooperation, and reinforce solidarity and the central role of ASEAN.
Under the theme “Advancing Together for Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient ASEAN”, AIPA-43 affirm AIPA’s consistent message and the host Cambodia’s wish of building an equal, strong and inclusive community, following ASEAN’s core spirit of one vision, one identity and one community.
As an event to mark the successful conclusion of a series of high-level delegation exchanges between the two countries in the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s official visit to Cambodia will contribute to solidifying political trust and enhancing bilateral cooperation, including between the two legislative bodies. The visit affirms Vietnam’s support for Cambodia as ASEAN Chair and AIPA-43 President while demonstrating the importance and high priority that Cambodia attaches to the friendship and cooperation with Vietnam.
For the Philippines visit, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue is the first foreign parliamentary leader that the Philippines welcomes after the general election. The visit reflects the importance that both Vietnam and the Philippines attach to enhancing the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, deepening the Vietnam-Philippines strategic partnership more substantively and effectively.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s attendance at AIPA-43, affirms that Vietnam continues to implement the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace and cooperation, promoting comprehensive and extensive international integration proactively and actively, and elevating multilateral diplomacy; working together with AIPA member parliaments to strengthen solidarity and the central role of ASEAN, as well as accelerating the process of building the ASEAN Community.
May National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s working trip to attend the AIPA-43 General Assembly and pay officials visits to Cambodia and the Philippines be a great success, helping to cement the friendship and political trust, promote cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia and the Philippines, as well as contributing to building a united, self-reliant, inclusive and sustainable ASEAN Community, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.
