Vietnam, Cambodia exchange multiple cooperation agreements

The ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam.

The leaders witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Party Committee of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the CPP Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations for the 2026-30 period.

An additional 11 documents were exchanged, including the 2026 cooperation plan between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Cambodian Ministry of Interior; a cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the Cambodian Ministry of Cults and Religion; and a series of cooperation pacts between Vietnam's Tay Ninh Province and Cambodia’s Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, and Tbong Khmum Provinces; and between Vietnam's Dong Nai Province and Cambodia's Kratie, Mondulkiri, Tbong Khmum, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, and Stung Treng Provinces.

On Friday, at the invitation of CPP President Hun Sen, Party chief Lam and a high-ranking delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam co-chaired a meeting with the Standing Committee of the CPP in Cambodia.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Party chief Lam highlighted the significance of his visit and of the meeting among the leaders of the three parties of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in Phnom Penh.

He stated that Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy places special importance on relations with its traditional neighbors Cambodia and Laos.

Solid political foundation for bilateral ties

Sharing outcomes of the 14th National Party Congress and the country’s development goals and orientations for the 2026-30 period, the Vietnamese leader stressed that the congress reaffirmed Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development, alongside multilateralization and diversification of external relations.

Vietnam prioritizes the development of good-neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability with Cambodia, based on mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and legitimate interests.

CPP President Hun Sen congratulated Vietnam on the successful conclusion of the 14th National Party Congress and on Party General Secretary Lam’s re-election as Party leader for the 2026-31 term.

Both leaders expressed confidence that each country would successfully achieve its development objectives in the coming period.

In a spirit of friendship and mutual understanding, the two sides exchanged in-depth views on the situation of each Party and country following major political events, and highly appreciated the positive development of Party-to-Party and state-to-state relations in recent years.

They emphasized that party relations provide the guiding foundation for the overall Vietnam-Cambodia relationship, and that the meeting held important significance in creating a firm political basis for bilateral ties and for addressing specific issues between the two countries.

The two sides noted that rapid, complex, and unpredictable global and regional developments are affecting both Vietnam and Cambodia, making it essential for the two Parties and countries to strengthen solidarity, coordination, and mutual support.

They also stressed that reinforcing political trust and cooperation among the three Parties and countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia is both an objective requirement and a key factor in ensuring peace, stability, and comprehensive cooperation for national development and defense.

Stronger economic linkages

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to further consolidate political trust and to maintain regular, substantive, and effective high-level visits and exchanges through Party, state, and other channels.

They also reached a consensus on strengthening defense and security cooperation, enhancing information sharing, and closely coordinating efforts to combat transnational crime, particularly cybercrime.

Both sides were committed to closer economic integration, with a focus on connectivity in transport infrastructure, energy, digital transformation, and supply chains in processing industries and agriculture, leveraging complementary strengths.

They pledged to intensify investment, trade, and tourism promotion activities, with the aim of raising bilateral trade to US$20 billion in the near future, while enhancing cooperation in education, training, and human resource development and establishing new cooperation frameworks.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fully respect and implement treaties and agreements on land border demarcation and marker planting.

Party chief Lam proposed Cambodia continue to facilitate favorable conditions and ensure non-discrimination for people of Vietnamese origin living, working, and studying in Cambodia.

The two sides agreed to further promote cooperation among Party agencies, parliaments, ministries, and departments, with particular emphasis on partnership between border localities to support socio-economic growth and maintain security and stability.

Besides, they agreed to coordinate closely and support each other at regional and international forums, especially within ASEAN and Mekong subregional mechanisms, and to enhance cooperation on the sustainable and efficient use of water resources, including joint efforts to respond to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on the Mekong River.

Also attending the meeting, Prime Minister Chinh, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, National Assembly Chairman Man, and Cambodian National Assembly President Khuon Sudary all expressed agreement with the major assessments and orientations outlined by Party General Secretary Lam and CPP President Hun Sen regarding the comprehensive and profound relationship between the two Parties and countries.

The leaders reviewed progress since the conclusions of the Party-to-Party meeting in February 2025, candidly identified shortcomings, and agreed on key priorities for future coordination.