SIAM REAP — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc held talks with his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techno Hun Sen on the sidelines of the third Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Siam Reap, Cambodia, yesterday.

Welcoming PM Phúc and his entourage to Cambodia for the third MRC Summit, Cambodia PM Hun Sen said he believes the participation of the Vietnamese delegation will contribute to the event’s success.

PM Phúc expressed his delight to visit Cambodia when Chol Chnam Thmay, the New Year festival of Cambodia, is approaching. He said Cambodia’s hosting of the MRC Summit and the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders’ Meeting in January has contributed to raise the country’s role and position in the region.

He reiterated Việt Nam’s consistent policy in relations with Cambodia, saying Việt Nam wants to continue stepping up friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia. They highly appreciated the two countries’ signing a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement and the minutes of the meeting of the Việt Nam-Cambodia Joint Committee on Land Border Demarcation and Marker Planting on the sidelines of the sixth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS-6) and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Việt Nam Development Triangle Summit (CLV-10) which took place in Hà Nội last week.

They agreed to maintain the exchange of high-level visits and coordinate in organising the 16th meeting of the Việt Nam-Cambodia Joint Committee on Economic, Cultural and Scientific-Technological Cooperation in Hà Nội on May 16-18.

The two PMs exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, including border issues and Vietnamese people in Cambodia.

They agreed to work together to settle issues related to the legal status of Vietnamese people in Cambodia on the basis of Cambodian law.

PM Phúc is in Cambodia for the third MRC Summit. He is scheduled to attend the opening session of the summit and meet with overseas Vietnamese people in Cambodia to extend his Chol Chnam Thmay greetings on April 5.

This year’s MRC Summit, themed “Joint Efforts and Partnership towards Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Mekong”, will create an opportunity for countries to review the operation of the MRC over the past four years and work to realise sustainable development goals.

The first event of its kind opened in Hua Hin, Thailand in 2010 and the second one took place in HCM City  in 2014.

High-level agreement

PM Phúc also met bilaterally with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith the same day of the 3rd MRC Summit.

He suggested that in accordance with the high-level agreement between the two Politburos, the two countries will work closely together at all levels, at bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to promote the effective and sustainable use and management of Mekong River water resources, harmoniously ensuring interests of nations along the river for the sustainable development of the two countries and the region.

Phúc asked the Lao PM to facilitate Vietnamese investment in Laos, direct the implementation of the bilateral labour cooperation agreement, speed up the simplification of administrative procedures, reduce fees of labour permits, visas and residence cards for Vietnamese workers in the country. He wished the Lao government would offer optimal support to Vietnamese to acquire Lao citizenship and establish the Association of Overseas Vietnamese in several Lao provinces.

Both sides agreed to agreements reached during leaders’ visits and the outcomes of the 40th meeting of the Việt Nam – Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, improve the efficiency of bilateral cooperation in 2018 and accelerate the implementation of the Việt Nam – Laos cooperation agreement for 2016-2020.

They vowed to uphold the success of the Việt Nam – Laos Year of Friendship and Solidarity 2017, and actively educate the two countries’ young generations about Việt Nam – Laos special solidarity.

And to mark the upcoming Lao traditional New Year festival Bun Pi May, the Vietnamese PM conveyed New Year wishes to Lao leaders and wished that Lao would keep thriving.

The MRC Summit, themed ‘Joint Efforts and Partnership towards Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Mekong’, is an opportunity to review the operation of the MRC over the past four years and work to realise development goals. 

The 4,800 km-long Mekong River flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam. Its basin spreads over 795,000 square kilometres in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Việt Nam. 

In 1956, the Mekong Committee was established under the auspices of the United Nations to co-ordinate aid and manage resources in the river basin. In 1995, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Việt Nam set up the MRC, replacing the Mekong Committee. 

The MRC holds its summit every four years, starting from 2010. The first MRC summit was held in Hua Hin, Thailand in 2010 and the second one took place in Hồ Chí Minh City, Việt Nam in 2014.-- VNS