The statement was made by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung who co-chaired the third Vietnam-Cambodia conference on development and cooperation between border localities held in southern An Giang province on December 25. The conference, which was also co-chaired by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, drew the participation of leaders of border provinces and representatives of several ministries and sectors of the two countries.

Mr Hung stressed the need for development and cooperation along Vietnam-Cambodia borders and said the conference took place at a time when the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries are progressing. He said the frequent exchange of high-level visits and the signing of agreements between their ministries and sectors vividly illustrates development of the traditional relations in the principle of “Good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability” as agreed by their top leaders.

He spoke highly of the fruitful cooperation between the two countries’ border provinces in recent times, especially in promoting socio-economic development and maintaining political security, and suggested that the two sides would work out orientations for cooperation in the interests of each country.

“Border provinces play a leading role in building and strengthening the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries and therefore the two governments prioritise such cooperation in their development strategies,” said Mr Hung.

Participants in the conference reviewed the implementation of agreements reached between the two countries’ ministries, sectors and border localities during the second conference and discussed measures to boost their cooperation in economics, trade, agriculture and rural development, energy, healthcare, culture, social affairs and tourism in the coming year.

They said they will coordinate closely with ministries, sectors and localities to complete the demarcation and planting of their border markers before December 2008, and tackle the remaining border issues.  

Closer cooperation
In an 18-point joint communiqué released after the conference, Vietnam and Cambodia agreed to increase their cooperation in promoting the development of border markets to facilitate trade and services while intensifying measures to combat smuggled goods and prevent the circulation of counterfeit money across the border.

They shared the view that the two countries should create favourable conditions for the movement, transportation of goods and travel by their citizens.  

They agreed to increase cooperation and encourage their enterprises to invest in agriculture, industry, husbandry, rubber processing, hunger and poverty reduction, environmental protection, protection of natural resources and the ecology to maintain ecological balance in their border areas and further cooperate in the fields of energy, healthcare, education, culture and tourism.

They agreed to speed up the demarcation and planting of border markers at six pairs of border gates between the two countries to facilitate trade and investment activities. They welcomed the initial results of their consular activities and agreed to amend and supplement current regulations on border management and consider visa exemption for Vietnamese and Cambodian citizens travelling across the border.

They agreed to hold regular meetings between their border provinces, ministries and sectors and submit reports on the results of their cooperation to the two Governments.