The visit an important political event of the two countries, kicking off activities in preparation for the Vietnam-Cambodia and Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Year and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 2022.
As two neighbouring countries, located on the Indochinese peninsula in Lower Mekong region, having the same origin of a long-standing wet rice agricultural civilisation in Southeast Asia and being ASEAN members, Vietnam and Cambodia have always been close while supporting and sharing with each other during their causes of national construction and development. The long-stranding neighbourliness and friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia have been put though tests and affirmed over half a century since the establishment of their diplomatic ties (1967-2021) as well as have been increasingly developed in a deep, practical and effective manner.
The two sides have always attached great importance to consolidating and strengthening their friendship and cooperation, with the pivotal role of their political relations, that has provided the overall orientation for the two countries' relations. The high-level meetings and exchanges have been regularly maintained. Amidst the pandemic, the leaders of the two nations have held many phone calls and online talks, affirming their determination to cooperate closely and deepening the “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation” between Vietnam and Cambodia.
On the basis of good political relations, their cooperation in other fields has been boosted. The defence and security cooperation have been developed in a deeper and more effective manner, becoming an important pillar in the relationship between the two nations. In terms of common border issues, the two sides have coordinated, exchanged information, enhanced the dissemination of the contents and significance and the implementation of two important legal documents, namely the 2019 Supplementary Treaty and the protocol recognising the results of land border demarcation and marker planting at about 84 percent of the total workload.
Economic, trade and investment cooperation has witnessed positive development. Cambodia ranks third among the countries and territories receiving investments abroad from Vietnam and Vietnam is among the top five largest investors in Cambodia. The two countries’ export and import turnover saw a year-on-year increase of 87.5 percent in the first 10 months of this year. The two sides have also worked closely to effectively carry out the agreements between the two governments and those reached at the meetings of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee on economic, science and technology cooperation.
The two nations have supported each other and enhanced their coordination at the international and regional forums, especially within the framework of ASEAN, the United Nations and sub-regional and regional cooperation mechanisms such as the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
In the context of the complicated COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have promoted their spirit of mutual sharing and support. Vietnam gave donations of finance and medical supplies for the fight against the pandemic. In contrary, Cambodia presented vaccines and medical equipment in COVID-19 prevention and control. The two sides have maintained their cooperation to support Vietnamese-Cambodian communities to stabilise their lives, contribute to Cambodia’s development and act as a bridge boosting the two countries’ friendship.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc led a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam to pay a State visit to Cambodia, in the context that the relationship between the two countries has continued its development momentum. It is a step further in implementing the foreign policy of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, affirming Vietnam always attaches importance to enhancing its relations with neighbouring countries and those with long-standing friendships. The visit also demonstrates Vietnam’s support for Cambodia's upcoming important activities such as the assumption of the role as ASEAN Chair in 2022 and the 2023 National Assembly elections.
May the President’s State visit to Cambodia be a great success, continuing to cultivating the friendship, consolidating political trust and fostering the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia to be more practical and effective as well as enhancing the solidarity and central role of ASEAN, contributing to the peace, stability, cooperation and development of the region and the world.
