Hanoi (VNA) – The 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomaticrelations (June 24, 1967) was celebrated with a grand ceremony at the HanoiOpera House in the capital city of Vietnam on June 24.

Vietnamese participants included National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen ThiKim Ngan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh who chairsthe National Steering Committee for the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2017,Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai, and President of theVietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man.

Among the Cambodian officials at the event were Honourary President of theCambodian People’s Party, President of the NA of Cambodia, and Chairman of theNational Council of the Solidarity Front for Development of the CambodianMotherland Samdech Heng Samrin; Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia andChairwoman of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association Men Sam An; andsenior officials of the Cambodian parliament.

In her speech, Chairwoman Ngan underlined that Vietnam and Cambodia areneighbouring countries with long-standing relations. On the basis of thetime-honoured relationship and the fight against colonialism, the establishmentof their diplomatic ties created favourable conditions for the two peoples tocontinue standing side by side in the struggle for national liberation, andthey together won a historic victory in the spring of 1975.

In response to the urgent call of the Kampuchean United Front for NationalSalvation, the army and people of Vietnam once again continued to be on theside of the patriotic forces and people of Cambodia to liberate the country andsave the Cambodian people from the Pol Pot genocidal regime, prevent the returnof the genocidal regime and bring recovery to Cambodia, she noted.

“On this special occasion, we express our sincere gratitude to the two peoplesfor their efforts and sacrifice in that lofty fight, particularly of heroicmartyrs, war invalids, formers experts, former volunteer soldiers of Vietnamwho did not spare their blood and bones and sacrificed themselves toconsolidate the traditional solidarity and friendship between the two nationsand peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia,” she said.

𒐪[Vietnamese, Cambodian leaders exchange congratulations on diplomatic ties]

 At the celebration, Samdech Heng Samrin described the organisation of theceremony as a great historical event reflecting that the countries’ traditionalsolidarity, friendship and sound cooperation throughout history have broughtabout common benefits for the two nations, especially in gaining peace,stability and prosperity.

On behalf of the Cambodian people, he expressed his deep sense of gratitude tothe Party, State and people of Vietnam for their precious support and assistanceto the Cambodian people in recovering and re-constructing his country. Hehighlighted the great sacrifice of Vietnam’s volunteer soldiers who helped freethe Cambodian people from the Pol Pot genocidal regime on January 7, 1979.

In their speeches, Chairwoman Ngan and President Samdech Heng Samrin noted withsatisfaction that despite countless difficulties and challenges over the pastfive decades, the solidarity, traditional friendship and comprehensivecooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia have continually been reinforced anddeveloped, which is a priceless, sacred and sustainable asset of the twonations.

They noted the growing bilateral cooperation between the two parliaments and inpolitics, security-defence, economy-trade-investment, tourism, training,culture, health care, telecommunications, and cultural exchanges. They addedduring the implementation of the foreign policy of multilateralisation anddiversification of international relations, the two countries have alsocoordinated closely at international and regional forums, thus helping topromote their respective prestige and stature in the region and the world.

They voiced their belief that the countries'time-tested amity and all-round cooperation will keep thriving for the sake ofthe two peoples.

Atthe ceremony, Colonel Le Cuong, who represented Vietnam’s former volunteersoldiers in Cambodia, shared his sentiment towards the land and people ofCambodia. He also congratulated Cambodia on its enormous achievements andaffirmed that he will continue to help nurture the two countries’ friendship.

Meanwhile, Xiu Kim Hua – a Cambodian student at Hanoi Medical University, saidthe youth of Cambodia always keep in mind the assistance and support that theVietnamese leaders and people have given to their country throughout history,especially the liberation of Cambodia from the Pol Pot genocidal regime in1979.

On behalf of the two countries’ younger generations, Xiu Kim Hua and TranPhuong Thao, a Vietnamese student at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam,affirmed younger generations’ responsibility towards the consolidation of theVietnam-Cambodia traditional friendship.-VNA