Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính meets King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni on Tuesday in Phnom Penh. VNA Photo

 PHNOM PENH - Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính paid a call on King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni in Phnom Penh on November 8, as part of his official visit to the neighbouring country.

PM Chính expressed his delight at visiting Cambodia on the occasion of the 69th anniversary of its National Day (November 9) and the 100th birth anniversary of late King Norodom Sihanouk (October 31).

He congratulated the Cambodian people on their recent achievements as well as success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic, and believed that under the sound reign of King Sihamoni, Cambodia would increasingly thrive with a higher international role and position.

King Sihamoni, for his part, highlighted the significance of the visit in the Cambodia-Việt Nam, Việt Nam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022, marking the 55th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

He highly appreciated sentiments that Vietnamese leaders offered to Cambodia, especially the late King and Queen Mother, as well as invaluable support and assistance to the Cambodian people in overthrowing the genocidal regime in the past and the process of national construction and development at present.

The King congratulated Việt Nam on its important achievements in various areas and the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as in socio-economic recovery and development.

The two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the development of the fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability between Việt Nam and Cambodia in recent years.

The Cambodian King spoke highly of the two governments’ efforts to reinforce the bilateral comprehensive cooperation to bring practical benefits to the people and contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and ASEAN Community.

PM Chính affirmed that leaders and the people of Việt Nam always treasured profound sentiments and valuable support and assistance that late King Sihanouk, King Sihamoni and generations of leaders and people of Cambodia had reserved for Việt Nam in the past struggle for national liberation as well as the present process of national construction and development.

He expressed his wish that in his noble role, the King would continue fostering the fine relations between the two nations and creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Cambodia to settle down their lives and make positive contributions to Cambodia’s socio-economic development and the bilateral relationship.

On this occasion, PM Chính reiterated President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc’s invitation to King Sihamoni to visit Việt Nam at an appropriate time next year. The King thanked and accepted the invitation with pleasure.

The same day, PM Chính called on Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk and conveyed regards of Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and high-ranking Vietnamese leaders to her on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of late King Norodom Sihanouk.

Meeting with Cambodian NA President

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính had a meeting with President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin on November 8 in Phnom Penh, during which they agreed to continue making efforts to deepen the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and long-term sustainable comprehensive cooperation between Việt Nam and Cambodia, for the sake of their people.  

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (left) meets President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin on Tuesday. VNA photo

The Cambodian NA president warmly welcomed the Vietnamese PM’s visit, emphasising that the visit not only contributed to strengthening the neighbourly friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Cambodia and Việt Nam but also demonstrated Việt Nam’s strong support of Cambodia as Chair of ASEAN and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2022.  

He congratulated the Government and people of Việt Nam, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Việt Nam led by General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, for the great achievements in socio-economic development and international integration, adding that he believed that Việt Nam would soon become an industrialised country in the near future.

Heng Samrin welcomed the results of talks between the two Prime Ministers and the signing of 11 cooperation documents on this occasion. He also highly appreciated the cooperation between the two Governments in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, investment, education and training, culture, health, and especially in land border demarcation.

For his part, PM Chính congratulated Cambodia for its important achievements, stressing that the successful organisation of the commune elections in June this year, which he said was the prerequisite for the country to well organise the election of the 7th National Assembly in 2023, contributing to maintaining stability and creating a new impetus for Cambodia's development.

The Vietnamese government leader said big room remained for Việt Nam and Cambodia to expand their cooperation, and asked the Cambodian National Assembly and President Heng Samrin to continue supporting the promotion of economic cooperation in commensurate with the potential and good relations between the two countries. VNA/VNS