Party General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng meets with President of the Cambodian Senate Say Chhum in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.— VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

PHNOM PENH — Party General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng had separate meetings with President of the Cambodian Senate Say Chhum and President of the country’s National Assembly Heng Samrin in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.

Speaking of the significance of the State visit by the top Vietnamese leader, the hosts believed that the visit would contribute to nurturing and deepening relations between the two nations as well as the two legislative bodies.

They also expressed their impression on Việt Nam’s socio-economic development achievements, while appreciating its increasing position and role in the region and the world.

Thanking the Cambodian leaders and people for their warm welcome, Trọng affirmed that the priority of Việt Nam’s consistent policy was to continuously consolidate and develop ties with its neighbouring countries, including Cambodia.

He underlined a common perception reached by him and King Norodom Sihamoni which confirms that the traditional friendship and solidarity between Việt Nam and Cambodia is their shared valuable asset and of significance for the national construction and defence in each country and for peace, stability, co-operation and development in Southeast Asia and the world.

The Vietnamese Party and State leader spoke highly of the important role of the two legislatures in boosting bilateral relations. He suggested both sides maintain delegation exchanges at all levels to intensify mutual understanding, share experience in legislative affairs, and create favourable legal conditions for Vietnamese people living in Cambodia and vice versa.

The hosts, in turn, voiced their wish to develop friendship and comprehensive co-operation with Việt Nam, and expand people-to-people exchanges, particularly between the younger generations.

They affirmed they always paid special attention to promoting collaboration in all aspects between the two countries, adding that Cambodian legislative offices would co-ordinate closely with the Government in consolidating the bilateral comprehensive collaboration and stepping up the settlement of existing issues in a fair manner with mutual respects.

Both hosts and guest agreed that along with bilateral co-operation, the two countries should strengthen co-operation, promote the efficiency of the consultation mechanisms, and co-ordinate closely at inter-parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

It is also necessary to work together to implement joint statements and co-operation agreements, and create a more favourable legal framework for economic and trade collaboration, they stated.

Cambodian Buddhists’ contributions hailed

On the same day, Trọng met with Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong and Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya order Bour Kry of Cambodia.

Meeting with Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong at Unalom pagoda and Supreme Patriarch Bour Kry at Svay Pope pagoda in Phnom Penh, the Vietnamese leader sent best wishes to all Buddhists in Cambodia.

Noting the outcomes of his talks with King Norodom Sihamoni, he said the two sides shared the view that for the last over 50 years, the friendly neighbourliness between Việt Nam and Cambodia had weathered every challenge to obtain comprehensive achievements, which served as a foundation for their solid development.

Such great attainments had been contributed to by the countries’ people, including Buddhist dignitaries and followers of Cambodia, Trọng noted, adding that they also affirmed the resolve to consolidate and continuously develop the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive co-operation and long-term sustainability between the two nations.

On behalf of the Vietnamese people, the Party General Secretary, President expressed sincere thanks to all Cambodian Buddhists for their good sentiments towards and wholehearted support for Việt Nam during the struggle for national independence in the past and development efforts at present.

He voiced his belief that the two countries’ relations will further flourish in the future.

Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong and Supreme Patriarch Bour Kry lauded Việt Nam’s enormous and all-round development successes. They affirmed that the Cambodian people never forget the wholehearted assistance of the Vietnamese.

They emphasised that the two countries are both brothers and neighbours, and the State visit by Party General Secretary, President Trọng was a milestone helping to strengthen their solidarity and friendship.

Also on Tuesday, the Vietnamese leader and his entourage laid wreaths at the Independence Monument and the Việt Nam-Cambodia Friendship Monument in Phnom Penh. — VNS