Leaders push for stronger Vietnam-Cambodia ties

• Cambodian King’s visit to boost ties with Vietnam

Mr Sang made the statement at a meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni, who is paying a state visit to Vietnam from September 24-26.

President Sang congratulated Cambodia on its significant achievements and said he believes that, under the sound leadership of the royal family and the government, Cambodia will be able to maintain national security and political stability, achieve high economic growth, improve people’s living conditions, and increase its role in regional and international arenas.

King Sihamoni thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, Government and people for their assistance to Cambodia during its struggle for national independence and ongoing process of national construction and development.

Both host and guest said they are pleased with the development of the long-lasting friendship and effective cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia in the past and agreed to strengthen their bilateral relationship for mutual benefit, and for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

President Sang took the opportunity to send his best wishes to other members of the Cambodian royal family.

On the same day, King Sihamoni met with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who praised the multifaceted relationship between the two countries that has benefitted both of them.

Highlighting the great potential and strengths of both countries, which could complement each other, PM Dung said that Vietnam will do its best to deepen bilateral relations in economics, trade, investment, education, training, culture, and national defence for mutual benefit.

The Government leader said he hopes that King Norodom Sihamoni will back cooperation, as well as Vietnam-Cambodia border demarcation, in order to build a peaceful, cooperative, and friendly border for common development.

He asked Cambodia to continue helping search for and repatriate the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese expatriates to settle into their new society.

King Norodom Sihamoni conveyed best wishes from the Cambodian royal family and leaders to PM Dung and other Vietnamese leaders. He also said Vietnam’s recent socio-economic achievements offer considerable encouragement for Cambodian people in their cause of national construction and development.

The king thanked Vietnam for its assistance to Cambodia’s national development and expressed his belief that the bilateral relationship between the two countries will continue to grow and flourish.