Choosing Laos and Cambodia as the destinations of President Quang’s first foreign trips once again demonstrates that Vietnam attaches great importance to bolstering the Vietnam-Laos special relationship and the Vietnam-Cambodia traditional friendly and comprehensive co-operative relations to new heights; considering them as an invaluable asset of each country to be safeguarded, promoted and transferred on to later generations by all parties for the prosperous development of each country, for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region.
In the land of plumeria flowers, President Tran Dai Quang and the Vietnamese delegation will have a chance to witness how the Lao people are actively bringing the resolution of 10th Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party into life, striving to lift the country out of underdevelopment by 2020 and reach a per capita GDP of US$3,300. The visit comes as the Vietnam-Laos special solidary relationship has been continuously nurtured, strengthened and developed in a broader, more effective and substantive manner in all fields.
The political relationship is being strengthened towards an increasingly closer bond. Defence-security and external co-operation has been enhanced with the completion of a project to increase and upgrade border markers along the shared boundary and the signing of two important legal documents on border issues, helping to finalise the Vietnam-Laos borderline marking in both legal and practical terms.
Economic, trade and investment co-operation has seen many improvements. Education and manpower training co-operation has also been given special attention. Co-operation in transport, science, technology, social issues, agricultural, communications, labour, culture and tourism is continuously promoted and expanded. The co-operative relationship between government ministries, agencies, parliament committees, social organisations and local authorities of the two countries plays an increasingly important, effective and substantive role. Vietnam’s provinces and cities continue to collaborate with and support Lao localities to build infrastructure, enhance healthcare and develop human resources.
In the land of pagodas, President Tran Dai Quang and the Vietnamese delegation will witness first-hand changes in all aspects of life in the Kingdom of Cambodia under the reign of King Norodom Sihamoni and leadership of the Royal Government headed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. The political situation is stabilising and national security has been guaranteed. In the past decade, the Cambodian economy has seen impressive growth at more than 7% annually, with the rate of extreme poverty down from 52% in 2004 to 17% in 2012.
The Vietnam-Cambodia relationship has been promoted by leaders and people of the two countries under the motto ‘good neighbours, traditional friendship, comprehensive co-operation, long-lasting stability’ to bring substantive benefits to the people of both countries. The two sides maintain exchanging of all-level delegations and foster bilateral co-operation mechanisms. Defence-security co-operation, implemented in accordance with agreements signed by the two sides, continues to be a pillar of bilateral relations, making significant contributions to enhancing mutual trust and creating a favourable environment for economic development in both countries.
Economic, trade and investment co-operation has produced encouraging results. Vietnam and Cambodia are working on a project to connect the two economies as agreed on in February 2014. Bilateral trade value reached US$3.37 billion and the two countries are targeting US$5 billion in the near future. Co-operation between government ministries, agencies, local authorities and social organisations of the two countries has been growing through the exchanges of delegations, mutual economic support, cultural exchanges, healthcare co-operation and people-to-people exchanges, contributing to maintaining and protecting a peaceful, stable, friendly and co-operative borderline.
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have co-ordinated and co-operated effectively at many international and regional forums. As ASEAN members, the three countries have worked closely with other member countries to build an ASEAN Community of unity, co-operation and prosperous development.
During President Tran Dai Quang’s State visits to Laos and Cambodia, leaders of the three countries will continue to enhance trust and close bonds; affirm the efforts and orientations in developing Vietnam-Laos, Vietnam-Cambodia bilateral relationships as well as discussing regional and international issues of shared interest.
President Tran Dai Quang’s visits to Laos and Cambodia are highly significant, affirming that Vietnam always attaches importance to and prioritises the cultivation of the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity and comprehensive co-operative relationship as well as the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship of good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive co-operation and long-lasting stability, for the interests of each country’s people, for peace, stability, co-operation and development in region and throughout the world.
