The paper quoted many analysts as saying that General Secretary Trong’s three-day visit will further strengthen the traditional ties of friendship between the two countries.

It said that Cambodia is Vietnam’s close neighbour, with nine provinces bordering ten Vietnamese localities and sharing the same Mekong River. Both countries fought together against old and new colonialism and now cooperate and support each other in national construction and development for the prosperity and happiness of their people.

Given the current regional and global complications, the paper said Cambodia and Vietnam are determined to pursue open political and foreign policies to diversify and multilateralise international relations while developing bilateral ties of friendship, solidarity and multi-faceted cooperation.

In recent years, bilateral friendship and cooperation between the two countries have been strengthened under the motto “friendly neighbours, traditional friends, comprehensive cooperation and long lasting stability”.

The paper emphasised the fine results of recent visits by high-ranking leaders including Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visits to Cambodia  in November 2010 and April 2011, and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s visit in September 2011, as well as the visit to Vietnam by former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, his wife Norodom Moninieth Sihanouk, and King Norodom Sihamoni in June 2010.

The cooperative ties between the two countries have been developing strongly, effectively and practically, especially in culture, economics, trade, investment, security, and national defence. Cooperation between their localities has been also boosted, the paper stated.

The paper concluded that Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong’s first State visit to Cambodia will help promote bilateral ties of friendship for the development of each country and contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region,.