Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on January 20 held talks with his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sakhonn. Photo: cand.com.vn

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on January 20 held talks with his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sakhonn during which both sides said they are happy to see the growing ties between the two countries’ ministries, agencies, localities and people, Nhan dan (People) newspaper said.

Despite Covid-19 impacts, the bilateral trade surged nearly 80% to reach USD10 billion last year.

In 2021, Vietnamese companies poured more than USD88.9 million in four new projects in Cambodia. This raised Vietnam’s total investment to over USD2.84 billion, making it one of the five largest foreign investors in the neighbouring country.

The two FMs agreed to strengthen cooperation and actively enforce agreements reached by both countries’ leaders on land border demarcation and marker planting.

Son also underscored the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability as well as freedom of navigation and aviation security in the region, saying that disputes must be settled via peaceful negotiations on the basis of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is necessary to push for talks to finalise a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (Bien Dong Sea), he said.

FM pays courtesy call to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen

FM Bui Thanh Son Son paid a courtesy call to Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen. Photo: Nhan dan (People) newspaper

Earlier, FM Son paid a courtesy call to Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

Welcoming the Vietnamese diplomat on the first days of the Cambodia – Vietnam Friendship Year 2022, PM Hun Sen expressed his delight at the positive and comprehensive development of the two countries’ relations in all fields, from politics, security, defence to education-training, culture, science-technology, people-to-people exchange and cooperation between people living the shared border.

He also emphasised that the two Foreign Ministries must coordinate well to organise celebrations of the friendship year and the 55th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Son, for his part, reaffirmed Vietnam supports Cambodia in its role as Chair of ASEAN in 2022 and stands ready to join Cambodia and other member states to accelerate the implementation of the bloc’s agenda, particularly the five-point consensus on Myanmar.

He conveyed greetings and reiterated the invitations of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other Vietnamese leaders to PM Hun Sen to visit Vietnam in 2022.

The same day, the Vietnamese FM paid courtesy calls to Cambodia’s President of Senate Samdech Say Chhum and President of the National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin.

FM delivers Tet gifts to needy Vietnamese Cambodians

President of the Khmer-Vietnam Association in Cambodia Sim Chy, on behalf of the Vietnamese expats there, receives pre-Tet gifts from Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son. Photo: VNA

As part of his two-day visit to Cambodia, Son met with leaders of the Khmer-Vietnam Association and presented gifts to needy Cambodians of Vietnamese origin in Cambodia on January 19, VietnamPlus reported.

President of the Khmer-Vietnam Association in Cambodia Sim Chy gave Son a brief update about the situation of the community of Cambodians of Vietnamese origin, the association’s main activities and how the community plans to celebrate Tet, Vietnam’s traditional New Year holiday.

The association has been focusing on raising awareness of Cambodian legal regulations among the Vietnamese Cambodians and helping them handle legal papers, among others, he said.

All chapters of the association have upheld their role in inspiring and promoting the solidarity and mutual support among the community at the time of Covid-19, he added.

Son highly spoke of the Khmer-Vietnam Association’s efforts, suggesting that its leaders and local chapters organise more practical activities for the community and act as a bridge between the two peoples during the Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Year 2022 when the two sides celebrate the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

He took the occasion to present 500 Tet gift packages, funded by the Vietnam Fatherland Front, to Vietnamese Cambodians affected by the pandemic./.

Vietnam, Cambodia Enhance Defense Cooperation Both nations have pledged to foster closer defense cooperation by having delegations at all levels exchange views, expertise and knowledge.

Vietnam, Cambodia Cooperates to Celebrate Friendship Year 2022 Close cooperation is needed to prepare for the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022 and the 55th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties in 2022.

Vietnam, Cambodia Further Coordination in Mass Mobilization Vietnam, Cambodia seek ways to foster cooperation in mass mobilization