(VOVworld)- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Monday began a visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang. The three day visit is part of activities to mark Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2012 and the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. The visit aims to promote neighborliness, time-honored friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni

Vietnam and Cambodia have established a long-standing relationship and share several cultural similarities. In the current period, the two countries are pursuing a foreign policy of openness, multi-lateralization and diversification of external relations and paying a special attention to strengthening the bilateral friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. In recent years, the bilateral relationship has witnessed major development contributing to peace, stability, economic development and national defense in their respective countries. They have established a cooperation framework of good neighborliness, traditional friendship, all round cooperation and long-term sustainability. They have signed 80 cooperative agreements in various fields and established necessary mechanism for coordination to boost bilateral friendship and cooperation. Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said: "Since the two countries established diplomatic ties 45 years ago, the bilateral friendship has grown steadily despite ups and downs in history. The close relationship between the two countries is reflected in the increase of regular exchanges between leaders and officials of both countries. People-to-people exchanges, especially along the border have been promoted".


Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was received by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in December 2011
Bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation has grown considerably over the years; two-way trade turnover reached nearly 2.8 billion USD last year. Vietnam has more than 100 investment projects worth 2.2 billion USD in Cambodia focusing on telecommunications, banking, energy, rubber, and agro-processing. Vietnam has also assisted Cambodia in human resource training and health care. Vietnam and Cambodia have made remarkable progress in border demarcation and marker planting. So far, they have planted 289 markers and delineated about 704 km of borderline. Both countries have agreed to complete the border demarcation and delineation to ensure a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. The relations between political and social organizations in Vietnam and Cambodia have been strengthened. Vu Ma, President of the Vietnam Cambodia Friendship Association said: "It’s important to encourage the younger generations of both countries to contribute to fostering the bilateral ties. We have closely cooperated with the Cambodia Vietnam Friendship Association and have mobilized the public to join our activities. This year, we are organizing several exchanges and issued a special edition of the Vietnam Cambodia Friendship Association to help people learn more about the development of both countries".


Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni
The two countries have also supported each other in regional and international forums such as the Cambodia-Lao-Vietnam cooperation, the Cambodia- Lao-Myanmar-Vietnam cooperation, the expanded Sub Mekong region cooperation, ASEAN, ASEM, and the UN.

Based on such a fine relationship, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni’s visit to Vietnam will help further the bilateral ties. This will create opportunities for leaders of the two countries to discuss issues of mutual concern and bring the bilateral ties to a new height.