(VOVWORLD) -55 years ago today, Vietnam and Cambodia established diplomatic relations. President Ho Chi Minh called it an historic event and a positive step for peace in Indochina and Southeast Asia. The close friendship and solidarity that has flourished over the past 55 years has benefited both nations.
 Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth (Photo: Le Chi/VOV5) |
Vietnam-Cambodia relations were shaped by the shared goals of their national liberation struggles.
Cooperation brings practical benefits
After establishing diplomatic ties, Vietnam and Cambodia stood side by side and together won historic victories in the spring of 1975. Solidarity and mutual assistance grew when the two countries overthrew the genocidal regime of Pol Pot on January 7, 1979, liberating Cambodia and its people. Vietnam then sent many experts to assist Cambodia’s reconstruction, undertaking a glorious, pure, and rare international obligation in the history of international relations.
The mantra of "good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability" was adopted during Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh's visit to Cambodia in March 2005. The two countries' relations have now entered a stage of comprehensive, win-win cooperation.
Politically, both have maintained high-level contacts and exchanges and cooperation mechanisms through multiple channels, even during the two-year COVID-19 pandemic. Their governments and peoples coordinated and supported each other in a timely and effective manner in pandemic prevention and control.
The two have firmly adhered to the principle of not allowing any hostile force to use the territory of one to harm the security and interests of the other. On the basis of agreements between their top leaders, functional agencies and local authorities have built a shared border of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development. In 2019, Vietnam and Cambodia signed two legal documents formalizing the demarcation of approximately 84% of their land border and are negotiating the remaining 16%.
Economic, trade and investment relations have achieved encouraging results. Bilateral trade turnover totaled 9.54 billion USD last year, up 79%, and totaled 5.44 billion USD in the first 5 months this year, up 18.7% over the same period last year. Vietnam now has 188 investment projects in Cambodia with total registered capital of 2.8 billion USD, making it the largest ASEAN investor and in the fifth largest direct investor in Cambodia.
Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth said:“Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cambodia are increasingly close. Despite hostile forces’ sabotage attempts, we realize that our traditional diplomatic relations and solidarity remain strong. In every period of time, we stay united for the prosperity of both country.”
 Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai delivers a speech to mark the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Cambodia bilateral relations. Photo: Van Diep/ VNA
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New goals
Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently agreed to increase bilateral trade turnover to 10 billion USD this year. They will ensure the exchange of people and trade of goods across their shared border as a special economic area.
Vietnam and Cambodia are both members of ASEAN. In 2022, the year of Cambodia's ASEAN Chairmanship, the two countries will continue jointly responding to challenges. Addressing the 55th anniversary of bilateral relations on Friday, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai said:“Even if the world situation changes, Vietnam will unswervingly value and do its best together with Cambodia to preserve and cultivate our relationship. With firm belief in and the steady development of our friendly, traditional neighborliness and long-term, comprehensive cooperation, we are determined to sustain the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.”