Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang (right) and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior Krolahom Sar Kheng, co-chair the 12th Conference on Cooperation and Development of Border Localities between Việt Nam and Cambodia. —VNA/VNS Photo

TÂY NINH — Vietnamese and Cambodian Deputy Prime Ministers agreed to effectively develop the land border gate system between the two countries, including opening and upgrading the agreed border gate pairs.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior Krolahom Sar Kheng co-chaired the 12th Conference on Cooperation and Development of Border Localities between Việt Nam and Cambodia in southern Tây Ninh Province on Tuesday.

They vowed to foster investment in infrastructure and transport facilities connecting the two countries’ border areas and connecting the border gate area with the major economic hubs of each country.

The two deputy PMs acknowledged that since the 11th Conference on Cooperation and Development of Việt Nam-Cambodia Border Localities in October 2021, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the complicated global and regional situation, the two countries have maintained close coordination in all fields and at all levels from central to local levels, including border provinces.

Regarding provincial cooperation, authorities and people of border provinces regularly exchange delegations, maintain cooperation channels, and support each other in economic development, infrastructure construction, health care, education, and social security.

The two countries' authorised forces and local authorities have joined hands to cooperate and maintain security and order in the border area.

The two countries signed a border trade agreement on the occasion of Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính's visit to Cambodia in November 2022 to facilitate bilateral trade cooperation.

The pairs of border gates have been gradually upgraded with investment in infrastructure, improved administrative procedures, and shortened clearance time.

The two leaders agreed that relevant ministries and localities of the two countries should continue to coordinate to improve and build legal frameworks and appropriate cooperation mechanisms to create favourable conditions for cooperation between bordering provinces.

The two sides agreed to continue the principle of not allowing any hostile force to use the territory of one country to harm the interests of the other.

They also agreed to closely coordinate to effectively implement legal documents related to land borders and disseminate relevant land border information to people and authorities of border provinces.

The two sides are determined to maintain the growth of bilateral trade, particularly border trade activities.

They agreed to promote the effective implementation of the Border Trade Agreement signed in November 2022 and encourage businesses of the two countries to seek opportunities to jointly develop Cambodia-Việt Nam Special Economic Zone located in Cambodian provinces bordering Việt Nam.

The two sides encouraged border provinces to continue promoting cooperation in transportation, agriculture, forestry and fishery, water resources and meteorology, energy, education, social work, culture and sports.

Economic, trade and investment cooperation is one of the bright spots of the Việt Nam-Cambodia’s bilateral relationship. Trade between the two countries grew strongly, reaching over US$10.57 billion in 2022, up nearly 11 per cent compared to 2021.

Việt Nam is Cambodia's third largest trading partner after China and the US. Việt Nam is also Cambodia's largest trading partner in ASEAN.

Việt Nam has had 205 valid investment projects in Cambodia with a total registered capital of $2.94 billion, ranking first in ASEAN and among the top five countries with the largest direct investment in Cambodia.

Cambodia ranks second among 79 countries and territories where Việt Nam makes foreign investments.

The two sides maintained regular high-level visits and effectively implemented important cooperation mechanisms, including the 20th meeting of the Việt Nam-Cambodia Joint Committee on Economic, Cultural and Scientific-Technological Cooperation in March 2023 in Hà Nội.

Cooperation in other fields such as defence, security, energy, transport connectivity, agriculture, forestry and fishery, education and training, culture, information, and tourism has been actively promoted.

The two countries have successfully coordinated to organise several activities to celebrate the Việt Nam- Cambodia Friendship Year and the 55th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations (June 24, 1967-June 24, 2022).

The 13th conference on cooperation and development of border provinces between Việt Nam and Cambodia will be held in Cambodia in 2024. — VNS