Vietnam and Cambodia ink MoU on cooperation between two legislatures

Signatories to the MoU are Heng Samrin, president of the Cambodian National Assembly and Vuong Dinh Hue, chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly, who is currently in Cambodia on an official visit.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of a cooperation document between the Secretariats of the two legislatures on this occasion.

The signing of the documents took place in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on November 19 following talks between the two legislatures’ leaders.

During the talks the two sides expressed satisfaction at the positive development of bilateral relations in recent times, and vowed to further develop the friendship and boost comprehensive ties between the two countries, considering this an indispensable objective requirement for both sides.

They agreed to strengthen visit exchanges in a bid to seek effective measures aimed at promoting cooperation in the fields of their great potential, including trade - investment, banking, agriculture, industrial tree planting, education - training, information - communication, transportation, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

With regard to defence and security co-operation, the two sides consented to work closely together to prevent terrorist activities, transnational crimes, as well as drug and human smuggling and trafficking.

They also reaffirmed the principle of not allowing any hostile forces to use the territory of one country to harm the security of the other. They pledged to find mutually acceptable solutions to complete the remaining 16% workload of land border demarcation and border marker planting, in order to build a land border of peace, stability, co-operation, and development between the two countries.

Hue thanked Cambodia for closely coordinating with Vietnam in successfully rescuing many Vietnamese citizens who had been scammed and forced to work illegally at economic establishments owned by foreigners in Cambodia. He expected that both sides would continue to deal with the issue moving forward.

Discussing further ties between the two legislatures, the two leaders underscored the importance of strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Hue suggested that the two sides increase the exchange of delegations of their legislative bodies, as well as bringing into full play mechanisms to promote the efficiency of their cooperation. In the immediate future, he requested that the two sides competently prepare for the organisation of the Friendship Parliamentary Group Meeting of the two legislatures that is scheduled to take place in Vietnam in December.

The two sides agreed to work in tandem to both monitor and speed up the implementation of bilateral and multilateral treaties and agreements to which the two countries are either signatories or are members.

Among the documents were those relating to building partnerships and promoting multilateral solutions to global challenges, such as climate change, green and sustainable development, as well as food - energy - water resources - health security. In addition, both sides should seek to further promote joint development and cooperation programmes along border areas in order to build a common border of peace, cooperation, and development.

Regarding regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two leaders emphasised that Vietnam and Cambodia must further strengthen ties and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially within ASEAN and Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.

The two sides emphasised the importance of ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, as well as resolving disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Both host and guest also talked about the preparations being made ahead of a tripartite meeting between the leaders of the National Assemblies of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.