Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính held a phone conversation with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Tuesday on the occasion of Cambodian New Year festival Choul Chnam Thmey. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Tuesday held talks with his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen on the occasion of the Khmer New Year, Choul Chnam Thmey.

On behalf of the senior leaders and people of Việt Nam, PM Chính sent New Year greetings to Cambodian leaders and people on the New Year festival, congratulated the great achievements that Cambodia had attained in recent times, and expressed his belief that under the leadership of PM Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the Kingdom of Cambodia would continue to grow and prosper, successfully hold important domestic and foreign affairs events in 2022, including the communal elections and the role of ASEAN Chairmanship 2022.

The Cambodian leader thanked the Vietnamese leaders for their meaningful wishes for the New Year.

He congratulated Việt Nam on the handling of COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent recovery, and total reopening, and expressed his confidence that the Vietnamese Government and people would continue to reap even greater accomplishments in the đổi mới (Reform) and international integration processes.

The two Prime Ministers expressed their satisfaction on the positive developments in friendly, neighbourly, and comprehensive cooperation between Việt Nam and Cambodia in the past.

Notably, despite the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, two-way trade value in 2021 reached more than US$9 billion, an increase of around 80 per cent compared to 2020, and there continues to be a positive growth momentum witnessed in the first quarter of 2022, with Việt Nam continuing to be the biggest foreign investor in ASEAN to Cambodia.

Underlining the strategic importance of the continuous maintenance and consolidation of Việt Nam – Cambodia ties with regard to each country’s security and development in the current situation, especially during the Việt Nam – Cambodia Friendship Year 2022 when the two celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two Prime Ministers agreed that it was necessary to continue to strengthen political trust and coordination to address COVID-19 challenges.

They also highlighted the need to take advantage of opportunities in the “new normal” to cooperate in promoting socio-economic recovery, and continue to coordinate in building a border of peace and friendship between the two countries.

PM Chính has once again affirmed Việt Nam's support for Cambodia to successfully carry out the duties as ASEAN Chair in 2022. — VNS