Vietnam president starts Cambodia visit

The president's trip marks the first by a Vietnamese head of state to Cambodia since the 13th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in January.

After meeting with King Sihamoni, President Phuc will meet with Cambodian leaders to comprehensively promote cooperation between both countries.

The visit takes place at a time when the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia continues to develop positively in all fields, despite the impact of Covid-19.

Leaders of Vietnam and Cambodia this year participated in many phone calls, online talks and face-to-face meetings. During those events, they had expressed their determination to cooperate closely and constantly strengthen good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive and long-term sustainable cooperation.

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth said the visit clearly reflects the close relationship between Cambodia and Vietnam, and at the same time, demonstrates to countries in the region and the world the friendship between the two nations.

This year, Vietnam provided $500,000 in cash, 800 ventilators, two million medical masks, and 300,000 N95 masks worth $10 million to support Cambodia's Covid-19 fight.

In response, Cambodia donated 200,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine to Vietnam, one million medical masks, 100,000 N95 masks, 100 oxygen generators and $350,000 in cash.

The two sides have worked closely in exchanging information and resolving issues arising along the border, enhancing and maintaining joint patrols at sea, and cooperating in the search and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese soldiers who had lost their lives in January 1979 during the counter-offensive on the southwestern border to free Cambodia from the Khmer Rouge regime.

The trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia reached nearly $7.9 billion in the first ten months of this year, up 87.5 percent over the same period last year.

Vietnam currently has 188 valid investment projects in Cambodia with a total registered capital of more than $2.8 billion and stands in the group of five largest foreign investors in Cambodia.

The two countries have also increased support for the Vietnamese community in Cambodia, helping to strengthen their legal status so they could settle down soon, actively contributing to Cambodia's development, and becoming a bridge promoting the relationship between the two countries.

Cambodia in October received the 2022 chairmanship for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from Brunei.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced then the theme of the 2022 ASEAN Chairmanship Year was "ASEAN Acting Together to Respond to Challenges" to work for harmony, peace and prosperity in the region, promoting the building of an equitable community that is strong and inclusive.