(VOVworld) – Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen has begun a 2-day visit to Vietnam to boost the good neighborliness, friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister Hunsen in Hanoi on December 20, 2016

Geographical proximity, cultural similarity, and shared interests have made Vietnam-Cambodia ties closer. Both countries are pursing foreign policies of openness and multilateralization.

Elevating comprehensive partnership 

The relationship between the two neighbors has flourished, contributing to a peaceful and stable environment for economic growth and the security of national independence and sovereignty.  Vietnam and Cambodia have established “good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and durable stability.”

Exchanges of visits at all levels have been maintained, consolidating trust between the two countries’ leaders and peoples. Vietnam is the 5^th largest investor in Cambodia with a total of 183 projects capitalized at nearly 3 billion USD. Cambodia has 12 investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 54 million USD.

Vietnam is Cambodia’s 3^rd largest trade partner. By October of this year, two-way trade had reached nearly 2.5 billion USD, including 1.8 billion USD from Vietnamese exports. Last year, 1 million Vietnamese tourists visited Cambodia and 120,000 Cambodian tourists visited Vietnam.

So far this year, the number of tourist arrivals to both countries has been on the rise. Bilateral mechanisms, like the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee for Economic, Cultural, Scientific-Technological Cooperation and the Meeting on Cooperation and Development of Border Provinces, has been working well. 

Cooperation activities and exchanges between the two countries’ agencies and social organizations are conducted on a regular basis.

Deepening good neighborliness

With closer cooperation in security and defense, Vietnam and Cambodia have shared information, resolved border-related problems, and maintained joint patrols at sea, and repatriated the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who died in combat in Cambodia. They have upheld the principle of prohibiting any hostile force from using one country’s territory to sabotage the other. The two countries are working to complete land border marker planting to ensure a border of peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development.

The current visit to Vietnam by Cambodian Prime Minister Hunsen will open a new development period in bilateral ties.