Hanoi (VNA) – Cambodian Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection MenSam An has visited the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment andDevelopment of Vietnam (BIDV) in Hanoi as part of her going visit to Vietnamfrom October 14 to 19.

Chairman of BIDV's Board of DirectorsPhan Duc Tu said implementing the policy of the two countries’ governments onpromoting investment, trade and tourism activities, the bank has set upcommercial representative offices in the fields of finance, banking andinsurance in Cambodia since 2009.

BIDV is now the leading Vietnamese financialinstitution in direct investment activities and financial and creditcooperation in Cambodia, he added.

After 10 years of establishment and development,the Bank for Investment and Development of Cambodia (BIDC), a subsidiaryof BIDV, has become one of the 10 biggest commercial banks in Cambodia in termsof scale with total asset value of 795 million USD.

Men Sam An said the investment activities ofVietnamese businesses in Cambodia have been thriving since BIDC and otherrepresentative offices of BIDV were set up.

BIDV and BIDC have been actively connectingbusinesses, promoting investment activities and developing relations betweenthe two nations, she added.

The Deputy PM asked the two banks to continuepromoting their roles in connecting economic, trade and investment activitiesbetween Vietnam and Cambodia in the coming time.

On October 17, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh CityPeople’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong hosted a reception for the CambodianDeputy PM.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State andpeople always attach great importance to relations with Cambodia and hope tofurther step up the bilateral friendship and cooperation.

HCM City will spare no efforts to strengthensound rapports with Cambodia in general and its localities in particular,especially through regular delegation exchanges, he said.

Men Sam An said the Cambodian government andpeople are determined to reinforce their friendship and solidarity with Vietnam,and build the shared border of peace and development.

She hoped HCM City will promote cooperation withand support to Cambodian localities, particularly Phnom Penh – the twin citywith HCM City.

Earlier on October 16, Men Sam An had a workingsession with Permanent Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee DangViet Dung.

Dung said that Da Nang has signed an agreementto set up cooperative ties with Cambodia’s Battambang province and agreed tocooperate in tourism, trade, agriculture, investment promotion, and culturalexchanges with Siem Reap province.

Men Sam An said the cooperation between Da Nangand Cambodian localities has demonstrated the close bonds between the Vietnameseand Cambodian people./.