Vietnam’s achievements bring opportunities for Cambodia: Cambodian leader

He expressed confidence that Vietnam would successfully achieve its national development goals in the new era, further enhancing its role and standing in the region and the world.

Their talks were held on the sidelines of the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled to take place in Phnom Penh on Sunday and Monday, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, the top Vietnamese leader affirmed Vietnam’s support and confidence that Cambodia would successfully host the summit, which would help strengthen Cambodia’s international role and standing, promote cooperation, and advance the shared values of the Francophone community.

He also praised the Cambodian leader’s important role and contributions to Cambodia’s nation-building and development, as well as his longstanding efforts to promote relations between Vietnam and Cambodia over several decades.

For his part, President Hun Sen described Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s participation in the summit as highly significant, demonstrating Vietnam’s attention and support for Cambodia in successfully organizing this key multilateral diplomatic event.

It also contributed to strengthening solidarity within the Francophone community, he noted.

The host affirmed that Cambodia always values and remembers the great and invaluable support and assistance provided by the Party, state, and people of Vietnam during its past struggle for national liberation, its escape from the genocidal regime and national revival, as well as its current process of national construction and development.

The friendship and solidarity between the two peoples have been tested and strengthened through different periods of history, becoming an invaluable shared asset that generations in both countries must continue to preserve, nurture, and promote, he said.

At the meeting, the two leaders agreed to further uphold the strategic guiding role of relations between the two Parties in the overall Vietnam-Cambodia relationship.

They agreed to maintain regular high-level exchanges, strengthen dialogue and consultations between Party and state agencies, and promptly exchange views and coordinate efforts to address important bilateral issues.

Both sides also pledged to effectively implement the outcomes and agreements reached at the high-level meeting between the two Parties in February.

They underscored the need to improve the quality and effectiveness of cooperation, while strengthening monitoring and follow-up mechanisms to ensure that agreed commitments are translated into substantive cooperation and deliver concrete, measurable results.

The two leaders agreed to continue fostering defense and security cooperation to maintain political stability, social order and safety, and security along their shared border, and enhance coordination in combating transnational crimes, including cybercrime.

On economic cooperation, the two countries will seek closer integration between their economies, prioritizing strategic transport infrastructure connectivity, facilitating cross-border trade, and expanding cooperation in investment and energy, as well as in key sectors such as rubber, rice, healthcare, banking, digital transformation, and education and training.

They encouraged relevant agencies to proactively review and resolve obstacles facing key joint projects, while creating more favorable conditions for businesses from both countries to expand their production and business activities.

The two countries also agreed to continue addressing outstanding border issues, accelerate demarcation and marker planting along the remaining sections of the shared border, and complete legal frameworks for border management, with a view to building a border of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.

They emphasized that the two Parties and countries consistently attach importance and priority to strengthening and developing the bilateral ties.

Besides, the two leaders agreed to enhance consultations, coordinate positions and support each other at multilateral forums, particularly ASEAN and Mekong subregion cooperation mechanisms, thereby contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

Both countries reaffirmed their consistent principle of not allowing any forces to use one country’s territory to undermine the interests of the other.

Looking ahead to the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2027, the two leaders agreed to coordinate the organization of practical and meaningful activities, linking commemorative events with concrete cooperation outcomes to create fresh momentum for the bilateral relations in the next period.

On this occasion, Vietnamese leader Lam conveyed the regards and best wishes for good health from Vietnam’s senior leaders and invited President Hun Sen to pay an official visit to Vietnam in the near future.