Vietnam, Cambodia promote border gate connection with economic centers

On the morning of April 25, at the Tay Ninh Provincial Party Committee Hall, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng co-chaired the 12th Vietnam - Cambodia Conference on Cooperation and Development of Border Provinces.

Previously, within the framework of the Conference, from April 23-24, 2023, senior officials from both sides held meetings to prepare for the Conference.

Speaking at the Conference, the two Deputy Prime Ministers were pleased to note that since the 11th Vietnam - Cambodia Border Provinces Cooperation and Development Conference (October 2021) up to now, despite many difficulties and challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic and complicated developments in the world and regional situation, the two countries have maintained good cooperative relations and close coordination in all fields and at all levels from central to local, including border provinces.

The two sides regularly maintain high-level visits and effectively implement important cooperation mechanisms, including the 20th Meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee on Economic , Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (March 2023 in Hanoi).

Focus - Vietnam, Cambodia agree to promote border gate connection with major economic centers — Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Cambodia Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng co-chaired the 12th Conference on Cooperation and Development of Vietnam - Cambodia Border Provinces. Photo: BNG

Economic, trade and investment cooperation is one of the bright spots in bilateral relations. Trade between the two countries has grown strongly, reaching over 10.57 billion USD in 2022, an increase of nearly 11% compared to 2021.

Vietnam is currently Cambodia's third largest trading partner (after China and the US) and Cambodia's largest trading partner in ASEAN. To date, Vietnam has 205 valid investment projects in Cambodia with a total registered capital of 2.94 billion USD, ranking first in ASEAN and among the top 5 countries with the largest direct investment in Cambodia. Notably, Cambodia ranks second among 79 countries and territories in which Vietnam has invested abroad.

Cooperation in other areas such as defense, security, energy, transport connectivity, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, education and training, culture, information, tourism, etc. has been increasingly actively promoted. The two countries have successfully coordinated to organize many solemn activities to celebrate the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year, commemorating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (June 24, 1967 - June 24, 2022).

Cooperation between the two countries' border provinces continues to be promoted comprehensively, achieving many positive results. The authorities and people of the border provinces regularly exchange delegations, maintain cooperation channels, and support each other in economic development, infrastructure construction, healthcare, education, and social security.

The functional forces and local authorities of the two countries have joined hands to cooperate and maintain security and order in the border area. Border trade is increasingly developing vigorously.

The two countries signed the Vietnam - Cambodia Border Trade Agreement on the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Cambodia (November 2022) to facilitate bilateral trade cooperation.

Border gates are gradually upgraded, infrastructure is invested, administrative procedures are improved, and customs clearance time is shortened.

Discussing the direction of cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia's border provinces in the coming time, the two sides agreed that relevant ministries, branches and localities of the two countries need to continue to coordinate to complete and build appropriate legal frameworks and cooperation mechanisms to facilitate cooperation between border provinces.

The two sides reaffirmed the principle of not allowing any hostile force to use the territory of one country to harm the interests of the other; closely coordinate to effectively implement legal documents related to land border work; actively propagate and disseminate relevant information so that people and authorities of border provinces continue to consolidate and build a border of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and sustainable development.

The two sides agreed to continue investing in the effective development of the land border gate system between the two countries, including opening and upgrading the agreed pairs of border gates; promoting investment in infrastructure and transport facilities connecting the two sides of the border and connecting the border gate area with major economic centers of each country.

The two sides are determined to maintain the growth of bilateral trade in general and border trade activities in particular, promote the effective implementation of the Border Trade Agreement (signed in November 2022) and encourage businesses of the two countries to seek opportunities to jointly develop the Cambodia - Vietnam Special Economic Zone in Cambodian provinces bordering Vietnam - Cambodia.

The two sides encouraged border provinces to continue promoting cooperation in the fields of transportation, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, water resources and meteorology, energy, education, social work, culture, sports, tourism, health, justice, information, communications, etc., as well as continuing to promote cooperation between the Fatherland Fronts, associations and unions of the two sides.

The conference took place in an atmosphere of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding. At the end of the conference, the two sides adopted two documents including the Central Report and the Joint Communiqué of the Conference.

The 13th Vietnam - Cambodia Border Provinces Cooperation and Development Conference is scheduled to be held in Cambodia in 2024.

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