Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (right) and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen hold a press briefing announcing the results of their talks on Friday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc held talks with his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen after a grand welcoming ceremony in Hà Nội on Friday.

At the talks, both leaders said that ties between Việt Nam and Cambodia were 'brotherly and 'inseparable'.

PM Hun Sen once again thanked Việt Nam for its valuable assistance to Cambodia in its struggle to overthrow the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime as well as its help in Cambodia’s reconstruction efforts even when Việt Nam was experiencing difficulties created by an international embargo.

The two PMs highly evaluated the signing of two legal documents recognising the completion of 84 per cent of land demarcation and marker planting, describing this as an historic milestone in the settlement of border issues as well as in building a shared border of peace, friendship, co-operation and sustainable development.

They also recognised positive developments in bilateral relations, especially growth in trade and tourism, and agreed on measures to boost co-operation in these areas.

The two leaders agreed to continue strengthening relations under the motto of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive co-operation and long-term sustainability” in the spirit of trust, equality, mutual respect and co-operation for mutual benefits.

They agreed to deepen political ties by increasing exchanges of all-level delegations and promoting efficient dialogue and bilateral co-operation mechanisms.

The two PMs vowed to increase talks on strategic security matters and strengthen co-ordination to defend the peaceful environment, security and stability found in each country while pursuing the principle of not allowing any organisations or individuals to use one country’s territory to harm the other’s security.

As neighbours, Việt Nam and Cambodia held huge potential and the advantages to step up co-operation in economy, trade and investment.

They agreed to promote connectivity between the two economies, especially connecting roads, waterway routes, electricity, tourism, finance and banking.

The two sides would co-ordinate to build favourable policy frameworks for businesses of both countries, particularly small-and medium-sized enterprises, to expand their investments.

The PMs agreed to instruct their ministries and sectors to take more measures to increase bilateral trade, which was likely to surpass US$5 billion in 2019.

PM Hun Sen took the occasion to thank Việt Nam for providing non-refundable aid for Cambodia for the construction of its National Assembly building, a drug rehabilitation centre in Preah Sihanouk province and a model border market, among others, as well as the granting of scholarships to Cambodian students and public servants.

The two PMs reached a consensus on finding the most suitable measures to help Vietnamese and Cambodian citizens living in each other's countries enjoy stable lives and legal statuses so they could make contributions to the socio-economic development of their host nations.

Touching on regional and international issues, they emphasised the significance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the region, and affirmed close co-ordination to build and develop the ASEAN Community and uphold ASEAN’s principles, while consolidating solidarity and resilience, and promoting the central role of the bloc.
The leaders agreed to boost co-operation in the Cambodia-Laos-Việt Nam Development Triangle and Greater Mekong Sub-region to narrow the development gap, and better manage and effectively use Mekong River resources towards realising the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The two nations would co-operate closely in 2020 when Việt Nam takes over the role of ASEAN Chair and Cambodia hosts the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 13), they said.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (right) leads a high-ranking delegation of the Cambodian Government on a two-day official visit to Việt Nam from Friday at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

After the talk, the two leaders witnessed the signing of seven co-operative documents, including an aid agreement on financing the construction of the Cambodian National Assembly’s Secretariat, an aid agreement for a drug rehabilitation centre in Preah Sihanouk province, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on customs co-operation, and MoUs on trade promotion co-operation, border trade infrastructure development, the model border market in Cambodia’s Tbong Khmum Province, and on electricity co-operation.

This is the second trip to Việt Nam made by PM Hun Sen in a year since Cambodia set up its sixth-tenure government in September 2018.

With a diplomatic relationship founded on June 24, 1967, the two countries boast a long-standing solidarity and friendship which have been nurtured by generations of their leaders and peoples. — VNS