Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyễn Huy Tăng. Photo vov.vn

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyễn Huy Tăng spoke to Vietnam News Agency about the traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and strong relations between Cambodia and Việt Nam prior to President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc’s state visit to Cambodia.

Looking back on the historical journey, how do you evaluate the Việt Nam-Cambodia relationship?

Việt Nam and Cambodia are two neighbouring countries sharing the same water of the Mekong River. The people of the two countries have a long-standing friendly relationship. I think that the Việt Nam-Cambodia relationship plays a very important and huge role in the development of each country.

Without the help of the international community, including Cambodia, it would be very difficult for Việt Nam to secure resources for the struggle to liberate the South and reunify the country. And without the timely and effective help and support of the Vietnamese Army and people, it would have been difficult for the Cambodian people to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime and revive the nation.

Today, the relationship under the motto "good neighbour, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability" between the two countries plays an even more important and greater role in the development of Việt Nam and the international integration of each country.

What can Việt Nam and Cambodia do to preserve and promote the traditional relationship between the two countries, especially on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1967- 2022)?

Looking back, although there have been ups and downs, in general the relationship between the two countries has overcome all challenges and is constantly developing. Preserving and promoting the value of that good traditional relationship is a demanding task for both countries. Towards the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and Cambodia, the two sides will focus on a number of issues.

Firstly, Việt Nam and Cambodia will maintain and promote good political relations. The two sides need to pay attention to preserving and constantly raising awareness of the strategic importance and vital significance of Việt Nam-Cambodia relations for the cause of nation building and defence in each country. We will also work to consolidate and strengthen political trust, build a solid social foundation, and promote multifaceted cooperation.

Secondly, the two countries will strengthen cooperation in the fields of security, defence and foreign affairs. This is one of the important pillars of the relationship between the two countries, ensuring a stable and peaceful environment for the development of each country. The two sides need to closely coordinate at international and regional multilateral forums, contributing to creating favourable conditions for Cambodia to successfully fulfil its role as the 2022 ASEAN chair.

Thirdly, Việt Nam and Cambodia will promote and constantly improve the efficiency of cooperation in the economic field, create new driving forces for each country's development, and become a resource ensuring the development of each country.

Fourthly, the two sides will continue to promote cooperation in culture, education, training, healthcare and science-technology. In 2022, the two countries need to coordinate to successfully organise each other's culture week and film week and step up the education of the people, especially younger generations, about the tradition of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.

Finally, Việt Nam and Cambodia will jointly promote the cooperation and mutual assistance between ministries, branches and localities, especially localities sharing border; promoting the friendship and mutual assistance relations between people of all walks of life, mass organisations and people's organisations of the two countries.

What do you expect from the two countries' contributions to ASEAN at a time when the region is trying to recover socio-economically during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The good relationship between Việt Nam and Cambodia will make a positive contribution to ASEAN and the region at a time when ASEAN and the region are making efforts for socio-economic recovery. 

We can recognise the contribution of the Việt Nam-Cambodia relationship to the socio-economic recovery of ASEAN and the region in several aspects. 

The two countries can continue to mobilise the international community to support the ASEAN Vaccine Fund to support member countries as well as other countries in the region. From each country’s experience in coordinating disease control and prevention, economic connectivity, overcoming broken supply chains, production and consumption, can be shared with ASEAN countries and the region. 

In addition, the good relations will contribute to promoting economic links and cooperation among ASEAN member countries, contributing to ASEAN's common goals, including the implementation of the " ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework" to restore socio-economic in the long term. The two countries can propose extensive strategies and appropriate recovery measures, bringing ASEAN economy and society back to sustainable growth and development. VNS