As part of his first overseas trip in his capacity as Permanent member of the CPV Central Committee’s Secretariat, on April 10, Tran Cam Tu had a productive working day with a series of activities during his official visit to Cambodia, made at the invitation of Samdech Say Chhum, Vice President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and Chairman of the Standing Board of the CPP Central Committee.
This high-level diplomatic activity followed the success of the first state visits by then Party General Secretary To Lam to Cambodia after the 14th National Congress of the CPV. It underscored the special importance that the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam attach to good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between the two countries.
The visit took place on the threshold of the 59th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Cambodia (June 24, 1967), providing further vivid evidence of continuity and synchronicity in the implementation of the CPV’s foreign policy, promoting bilateral relations into a new stage of development.
It was even more meaningful as it coincided with preparations by the Cambodian people for their traditional Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) festival, the country’s largest celebration, which is also observed by more than 1.3 million Khmer people in Viet Nam.
Beyond its festive scope, Chol Chnam Thmay serves as a cultural bridge with profound humanitarian significance. Exchanges and meetings between the Khmer people of Viet Nam and Cambodians during Chol Chnam Thmay contribute to strengthening understanding, trust, and solidarity between the two nations. The festival has become an occasion for high-ranking leaders of both countries to exchange greetings and discuss important issues in bilateral relations.
The visit is a vivid testament to the strong, enduring, and close development of Viet Nam–Cambodia relations. This close relationship, nurtured by previous generations of leaders, is inherited and will continue to be promoted into the future by the current generation.
The participation of senior Vietnamese leaders in Chol Chnam Thmay activities in Cambodia and among the Khmer people of Viet Nam demonstrates the care of the Vietnamese Party and State for Khmer communities in both countries, while simultaneously consolidating political cooperation with the neighbouring country.
Throughout the high-level activities during the visit, Cambodian leaders expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the sincere and unwavering support of the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam, which not only helped the Cambodian people escape the Khmer Rouge genocide but also contributed to the revival, development, and reconstruction of Cambodia.
Highly valuing the official visit to Cambodia by Permanent member of the CPV Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu and the high-level Vietnamese delegation, Cambodian leaders affirmed that it is a vivid testament to the strong, enduring, and close development of Viet Nam–Cambodia relations. This close relationship, nurtured by previous generations of leaders, is inherited and will continue to be promoted into the future by the current generation.
During his visit, Permanent member of the CPV Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu held talks with Samdech Say Chhum, Vice President of the CPP and Chairman of the Standing Board of the CPP Central Committee; met with Cambodian National Assembly President Samdech Khuon Sudary, President of the Cambodian Senate Hun Sen, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet; and witnessed the exchange of Viet Nam–Cambodia cooperation documents for the period 2026–2030.
Leaders of both sides highly valued the strong development in cooperation between the two Parties and the two countries, which is becoming increasingly in-depth, effective, and substantive across all fields.
They agreed that strengthening trade, investment, infrastructure, banking and finance, and supply chain linkages will create favourable conditions for businesses in both countries to expand cooperation, aiming to achieve a bilateral trade turnover of 20 billion USD, commensurate with the potential, strengths, and level of integration of the two economies. Defence and security cooperation has continued to serve as a pillar, becoming increasingly close and substantive.
Both sides reaffirmed the principle of not allowing any hostile forces to use one country’s territory to undermine the security of the other; jointly promoting cooperation in combating crime, especially transnational crime, drug trafficking, and high-tech crime, thereby contributing to maintaining security and stability for the development of each country and the wider region.
Cambodian leaders congratulated Viet Nam on consolidating its high-level leadership following the 14th National Congress of the CPV and the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term.
Leaders of both sides highly valued the strong development in cooperation between the two Parties and the two countries, which is becoming increasingly in-depth, effective, and substantive across all fields.
They expressed confidence that under the wise leadership of the CPV, headed by General Secretary and President To Lam, Viet Nam will achieve double-digit growth, fulfilling its goal of becoming a developed country with upper-middle income by 2030 and high income by 2045.
During their official visit to Cambodia, Permanent member of the CPV Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu and the high-level Vietnamese delegation met with Cambodian alumni who had studied in Viet Nam. At the meeting, Cambodian alumni shared many unforgettable memories of the affection and thoughtful care they received from their Vietnamese teachers and friends during their time studying and living in Viet Nam. Many of them now hold important positions in Cambodia’s political system.
Meeting with officials and staff of the Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Cambodia, Tran Cam Tu affirmed that the Party, State, and people of Viet Nam always pay special attention to Vietnamese expatriates in Cambodia. During high-level visits and contacts, Vietnamese leaders frequently requested Cambodian leaders to pay more attention to and create more favourable conditions, both in terms of policy and practice, for Vietnamese expatriates in Cambodia to stabilise their lives, integrate into local society, and make positive contributions to Cambodia as well as Viet Nam–Cambodia relations.
After two days of continuous and effective work, the official visits to Laos and Cambodia by Politburo member and Permanent member of the CPV Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, together with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, concluded successfully.
The visits further affirmed the political determination of the leaders of the three Parties and three States, along with the tradition of solidarity and close ties between the people of Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia; while simultaneously translating high-level commitments into concrete actions, thus creating fresh momentum for trilateral cooperation.
