General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee, To Lam, will lead a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam on a state visit to Cambodia on February 6, at the invitation of Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni. In addition, at the invitation of President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, General Secretary Lam will co-chair a high-level meeting between the Politburo of the CPV Central Committee and the Standing Board of the CPP Central Committee, as well as a trilateral meeting of the three Party leaders of Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Laos.

This marks General Secretary To Lam’s first working trip to Cambodia following the successful 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, thereby contributing to the further consolidation of political trust and cooperation between the two countries across all fields in a more substantive and effective manner. The visit reaffirms Viet Nam’s consistent policy of always valuing and seeking to deepen relations with Cambodia; strengthening trust and close ties between the senior leaders of the two countries; and promoting sound cooperation between the two nations, as well as solidarity among Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Laos.

The meeting between the three Party leaders of Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Laos is a significant political event, contributing to the consolidation of political trust and cohesion among the three parties and nations, and fostering substantive and effective cooperation among the three parties and three countries in the current context.

Viet Nam and Cambodia share a longstanding traditional friendship. Throughout the many upheavals and vicissitudes of regional and international affairs, the peoples of Viet Nam and Cambodia have remained united, standing shoulder to shoulder, offering each other invaluable support and assistance in the struggle for independence from colonial rule, working together to overthrow the genocidal Pol Pot regime, and accompanying one another in the construction and development of their respective countries.

Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts did not spare their blood and lives in helping Cambodia escape the Pol Pot genocide, contributing to the historic victory of January 7, 1979. That victory brought one of the darkest chapters in Cambodia’s history to an end, saved the Cambodian people from the catastrophe of genocide, and opened a new era — an era of development in independence, freedom, peace, neutrality, and prosperity.

The victory also wrote a heroic chapter of international solidarity between the two neighbouring countries. The Kampuchea Press Agency (AKP) affirmed that it was a great heroic chapter of selfless, pure, and sincere international solidarity between Cambodia and Viet Nam. Generations of the Cambodian people will forever remember, and never forget, the immense contributions and heroic sacrifices of Vietnamese soldiers.

Through the many ups and downs of history, solidarity between Viet Nam and Cambodia has continued to be nurtured by successive generations of leaders and people in both countries. In 2005, the two sides agreed to strengthen and develop bilateral relations in the spirit of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability.” Guided by that direction, ties have been continuously consolidated and expanded across all fields, delivering practical benefits to the people of both countries and contributing positively to peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and the world.

Viet Nam always attaches importance to its relationship with Cambodia, as well as to the bonds of solidarity and closeness among Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia.”

~ General Secretary To Lam

Viet Nam–Cambodia relations have entered a phase of comprehensive, mutually beneficial cooperation, becoming increasingly deeper and more effective.

In recent times, the two sides have continued to maintain many high-level and other exchanges within the bilateral framework as well as at multilateral forums. Party-to-party cooperation plays a guiding role in the relations between the two countries. Important bilateral cooperation mechanisms are regularly organised and continue to be effective. The two sides successfully coordinated the organisation of the Conference on Cooperation and Development between Border Provinces (in Phnom Penh, November 2025) and the 21st meeting of the Joint Committee on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (in Siem Reap, December 2025).

Defence and security cooperation continues to be a pillar, becoming increasingly close and substantive. Both sides affirmed the principle of not allowing any hostile forces to use the territory of one country to undermine the security of the other. Based on treaties, agreements, and understandings of the high-level leaders of the two countries, the relevant agencies, authorities, and people of the border localities of both sides are actively coordinating the implementation of land border demarcation and marker planting. In 2019, the two sides signed two legal documents acknowledging the achievement of border demarcation and marker planting for about 84% of the Viet Nam–Cambodia land border, and are continuing negotiations to resolve the remaining 16% of the border that has not been demarcated and planted with markers.

Trade, investment and tourism cooperation remains a bright spot, recording steady growth. Bilateral trade turnover reached 11.33 billion USD in 2025, up more than 11.7% compared with 2024. Viet Nam is currently Cambodia’s third-largest trading partner and Cambodia’s largest trading partner within ASEAN.

To date, Viet Nam has 229 valid investment projects in Cambodia with a total registered capital of approximately 2.94 billion USD, placing it among the top five largest sources of foreign direct investment in Cambodia. There remains significant room for economic cooperation between the two countries, which needs to be further promoted in a more substantive and effective manner. Both sides are actively coordinating efforts to achieve the goal of raising bilateral trade turnover to 20 billion USD in the near future.

In education, each year Viet Nam grants hundreds of long-term scholarships to Cambodian students to study in Viet Nam, while the number of Vietnamese students studying in Cambodia has been increasing. Currently, there are nearly 1,500 Cambodian students studying in Viet Nam and nearly 100 Vietnamese students studying in Cambodia. This will serve as an important bridge connecting the friendship between the two countries.

In tourism, during the first 11 months of 2025, Viet Nam recorded approximately 1.11 million visitor arrivals to Cambodia (ranking first among countries sending tourists to Cambodia), and welcomed 614,225 Cambodian visitors.

Other areas of cooperation in education and training, transport, culture, healthcare and telecommunications have also received increased attention and promotion. Exchanges and cooperation among mass organisations and people’s organisations have been maintained and have seen innovations in form.

The two countries also coordinate closely at international, regional and subregional forums, particularly at the United Nations, ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms, as well as Mekong subregional cooperation mechanisms, thereby contributing to enhancing each country’s prestige and standing in the region and the world.

The year 2027 will mark an important milestone in Viet Nam-Cambodia relations, as the two countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (June 24, 1967-2027). The two sides are coordinating to develop practical plans for this anniversary, including stepping up education and communication efforts to help all sections of society, particularly the younger generations,—gain a deeper understanding of the significance and importance of the relationship, as well as each individual’s responsibility to preserve and nurture the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term Viet Nam-Cambodia ties

“The success of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, with the unity and trust of the Vietnamese people, is not only a joy for the people of Viet Nam but also a shared joy for all countries in the region, including Cambodia.

Samdech Men Sam An, President of the National Council of the Solidarity Front for Development of the Cambodian Motherland

Published: February 2026
Production managers: Chu Hong Thang, Pham Truong Son
Content: Nguyen Ha, Minh Hang
Layout: Hoa An
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, VNA