Vietnam and Cambodia agree to strengthen defense and security cooperation.

The leaders of Vietnam and Cambodia agreed to strengthen defense and security cooperation and coordinate closely in combating and preventing hostile forces from plotting to undermine and divide the relationship between the two countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

According to the VNA special correspondent, on the occasion of attending the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit, the 10th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, and the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Cooperation Summit (CLMV 11) in Kunming (China), on the afternoon of November 6, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Manet.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed to Prime Minister Hun Manet, the leaders and people of Cambodia his best wishes on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of Cambodia's National Day (November 9, 1953 - November 9, 2024).

Congratulating Cambodia on its socio-economic development achievements in recent years, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that Cambodia will continue to achieve even more significant and comprehensive successes in the future.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the tradition of solidarity, close ties, and mutual assistance between Vietnam and Cambodia is a precious asset and one of the important factors in the national liberation struggle in the past and the development of each country today.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed greetings from General Secretary To Lam, President Luong Cuong, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to senior leaders of the Cambodian party and state.

Prime Minister Hun Manet conveyed his greetings and thanks to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the leaders and people of Vietnam; congratulated Vietnam on its outstanding achievements, especially in socio-economic development, in recent times; and expressed confidence that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, headed by General Secretary To Lam, Vietnam will continue to achieve even greater successes in the cause of national construction and development.

The two Prime Ministers expressed pleasure at the recent developments in the good neighborly relations, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between the two countries, and welcomed the regular high-level and other visits and contacts between the two countries.

Both sides agreed to strengthen defense and security cooperation, closely coordinate in combating and preventing hostile forces from undermining and dividing bilateral relations; encourage and facilitate investment and business activities of enterprises from both countries, striving to achieve the goal of reaching US$20 billion in bilateral trade in the near future; and committed to promoting transportation connectivity, especially in border areas, to facilitate cross-border trade and people-to-people exchanges between border provinces.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that both sides expedite the resolution of areas where border demarcation and marker placement have not yet been completed.

Both sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and meetings between young leaders and the younger generation of the two countries to enhance understanding, create closer ties and trust, and especially to prioritize and improve cooperation in education, and to strengthen the dissemination of information, especially to the younger generation, about the traditional values of solidarity and mutual assistance between the two countries.

The two Prime Ministers emphasized the historical significance and value of the Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos relationship; affirming their commitment to maintaining cooperation mechanisms among the three countries through all channels, for the benefit of the people of the three countries, and for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh happily accepted Prime Minister Hun Manet's invitation to pay an official visit to Cambodia soon; a suitable time will be arranged through diplomatic channels.

Source