Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn co-chaired the 19th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee on economic, science and technology cooperation via videoconference on Dec. 19, VNA reported Monday.

At the videoconference. Photo: VNA

Addressing the event, Son expressed his delight at the good progress of the sound neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive, stable, and long-term cooperation between the two countries in all fields since the previous meeting in December 2020 despite Covid-19.

Prak Sokhonn noted that the friendly neighborliness and comprehensive partnership between Cambodia and Vietnam have been reinforced and deepened. He welcomed the effective collaboration and mutual support between the two countries in the pandemic fight, underlining that the meeting is a chance for both sides to improve their coordination at regional and international forums.

They shared pleasure with both sides' close cooperation in preparing for a State visit to Cambodia from Dec. 21-22 by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc as well as events to celebrate the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022 and the 55th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (June 24, 1967-2022).

They discussed cooperation outcomes among ministries and sectors over the years across all fields of politics-diplomacy, defense, security, border control, economy, trade, investment, transport, education-training, culture, sports, tourism, health care, and justice as well as among localities.

Both sides agreed to continue maintaining regular high-level meetings and exchanges, promoting the efficiency of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, coordinating closely in organizing events within the framework of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022, educating the youth in the bilateral ties, and implementing agreements on defense and security, speeding up the search and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts falling down in Cambodia.

They concurred to continue working together to strengthen economic connections and deal with difficulties facing businesses of both countries while fostering partnership in transport, tourism, agro-forestry-fisheries, telecommunications and information technology, labor, natural resources, and environment.

Minister Son thanked the Cambodian side for supporting the Vietnamese community in the country, suggesting that both sides strengthen coordination in realizing bilateral deals to build a shared borderline of development and friendship.

They shared pleasure at close coordination at international and regional forums, especially within the ASEAN and UN frameworks as well as sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, including collaboration in effective and sustainable use of Mekong River water resources.

Son affirmed that Vietnam will support Cambodia in completing its role as ASEAN Chair in 2022.

A minute of the meeting is expected to be signed in Phnom Penh on Dec. 21 during the State visit to Cambodia by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The next meeting of the committee is scheduled to be held in Vietnam in 2022.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son co-chairs the 19th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee on economic, science and technology cooperation in Hanoi. Photo: VNA

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang, in celebration of the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, the two sides will focus on a number of major tasks to further boost their ties, first of all strengthening the already sound political relationship, which guides the overall relations.

Along with enhancing awareness of both sides on the strategic and vital significance of the bilateral ties to each country's national construction and defense, they will work closely together to reinforce political trust and build a firm social foundation for the development of the ties, he said.

At the same time, they will continue to bolster their partnership in culture, education-training, health care, and science-technology. In 2022, they will coordinate to organize a culture and a film week in each other’s country, while promoting educational activities among people, especially the youth, on the bilateral traditional friendship, he added.

Trade between Vietnam and Cambodia reached USD 2.69 billion in the first quarter of 2021, up 103.68% annually. Last year, the figure tripled from 2010.

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