Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung (L) and Cambodian Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Eat Sophea co-chair the event (Photo: VNA)
Phnom Penh (VNA) – The sixth politicalconsultation between Vietnam and Cambodia was held in Phnom Penh on July 18.
The event was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Ministerof Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung and Cambodian Secretary of State at theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Eat Sophea.
The two sides expressed their satisfaction atthe growing friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation betweenVietnam and Cambodia with the regular exchange of high-level delegations andmeetings.
The cooperation between ministries andlocalities as well as people-to-people exchanges have been further deepenedwhile the bilateral economic and trade partnership has developed strongly withtwo-way trade reaching 4.7 billion USD in 2018.
Vietnam is among the top five foreign investorsin Cambodia with 211 projects worth over 3 billion USD.
The two sides held that there is still largeroom for Vietnam and Cambodia to collaborate in the fields of economy, trade,investment, education-training, and tourism.
They agreed to enhance trade relations,especially cross-border trade, and promote connectivity at border gates anddevelop infrastructure at border areas in order to increase two-way trade toover 5 billion USD and soon complete an overall plan connecting the twoeconomies through 2030.
Vietnam affirmed to continue prioritisingcooperation in education and training high-quality human resources for Cambodiaunder the signed agreements.
The two sides agreed to speed up theimplementation of land border demarcation and marker planting and sign twolegal documents recognising the completion of 84 percent of the work in 2019.
They vowed to closely work together to stabilisethe legal status for Vietnamese-Cambodians.
Vietnam and Cambodia highly evaluated thepolitical consultation mechanism and pledged to promote exchanges betweenVietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairsand International Cooperation for better mutual understanding.
They agreed to coordinate to successfullyorganise the 17th session of the joint committee for economic, cultural,scientific and technological cooperation in 2019.
The two sides agreed to increase the sharing of informationand coordination at regional and international forums, especially in thecooperation mechanisms of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and related forums, contributingto the common goal of peace, stability and sustainable and inclusivedevelopment in the region, as well as promoting solidarity, unity and centralrole of ASEAN.
They pledged to strengthen coordination in 2020when Vietnam will take over the ASEAN Chairmanship and Cambodia will host theAsia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
Later on the same day, Deputy Foreign MinisterNguyen Quoc Dung paid a courtesy visit to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister andMinister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn.-VNA
Leaders of the engineer corps high commands of the Vietnam People’s Army and Royal Cambodian Army held talks in the southern province of Binh Duong on June 26.
The Vietnam – Cambodia Trade and Investment Promotion Forum 2019 took place in Phnom Penh on July 9, attracting over 200 delegates from the two countries, especially from southwestern border provinces of Tay Ninh, Dong Thap and An Giang.
Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Hau A Lenh has hailed great contributions of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland (SFDCM) to the implementation of cooperation programmes agreed by the two countries’ leaders.
The negotiations for border demarcation and marker planting between Vietnam and Cambodia over the past time have reaped good outcomes, contributing to the creation of a stable and peaceful environment for the two countries’ national defence and economic development, heard a conference held in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on July 16.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.