Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh receives Cambodian Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Prak Sokhon in Hà Nội yesterday.— Photo chinhphu.vn

HÀ NỘI — Cambodian Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Prak Sokhon pledged to strengthen cooperation between the two foreign ministries during his talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh in Hà Nội yesterday.
The talks were part of the official visit of the Cambodian minister to Việt Nam from Tuesday to today, at Minh’s invitation.
Host and guest expressed approval of the rapid and effective development of bilateral links in politics-diplomacy, national defence-security, economy, trade and investment. Both also approve of the effective operation of mutual cooperation mechanisms.

Deputy PM Minh asked Cambodia to provide all possible support for Vietnamese nationals living in the country, reinforcing traditional neighbourly friendship between the two countries.
He also suggested the Cambodian Foreign Ministry offer more favourable policies to Vietnamese investors in Cambodia, including granting certificates of land use and concluding negotiations on the double taxation avoidance agreement, toward lifting two-way trade to US$5 billion.
The two sides agreed to maintain close co-operation and co-ordination of viewpoints at regional and global forums, while increasing collaboration with other ASEAN member states to consolidate ASEAN’s solidarity, unity and central role: for the sake of peace, security, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.
On the East Sea issue, the two sides share the view that disputes should be solved by peaceful means, without using or threatening to use force. This view is in line with widely-accepted principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). It also represents work-in-progress towards formulating a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Both sides also committed to continue working closely together, and with other members of the International Mekong River Commission, to ensure the sustainable management and use of Mekong River water resources and to promote Mekong – Lancang co-operation.

Vietnamese leaders’ reception

During the meeting with his guest yesterday, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc asked that the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Co-operation mechanism - and the conference on cooperation and development among Vietnamese and Cambodian border provinces - be promoted.

He also asked the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation to assist in removing challenges faced by Vietnamese nationals living in the country, particularly related to their legal status. Addressing these issues would allow overseas Vietnamese to live more stable lives and to contribute to the host country’s socio-economic development and the friendship between the two countries.

The host urged increasing co-operation between the two countries in multilateral frameworks, particularly the ASEAN. He hopes Cambodia will continue to express its stance, together with other ASEAN member states, on the East Sea issue, with a view to consolidating ASEAN’s role in regional security as well as in the ASEAN Community.

In the meantime, President Trần Đại Quang urged the two countries’ foreign ministries to join hands with each other in organising practical activities marking the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (June 24, 1967) to educate younger generations about the relationship.

President Quang asked the minister to convey his invitations to King Norodom Sihamoni and leaders of the Cambodian Senate, National Assembly and Government to visit Việt Nam.

Sokhonn told Vietnamese leaders that his Việt Nam visit aims to demonstrate the Cambodian Government’s resolve to step up the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. — VNS