Phnom Penh (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Cambodia, from November 8-9, is expected tofurther bring the relations between the two countries to a new period on thebasis of equality, mutual benefit, effective cooperation and respect for eachother’s interests, a diplomat has said.

This will be the first visit by Chinh in hiscapacity as Prime Minister of Vietnam, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

It will contribute to materialising Vietnam’s policyon developing relations with neighbouring countries and other ASEAN membernations, with priorities given to promoting and deepening the “good neighbourliness,traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable and long-termcooperation” with Cambodia.

During the visit, PM Chinh and his counterpart SamdechTecho Hun Sen and other leaders of Cambodia will have in-depth discussionsabout the situation in each country, as well as the regional and worldsituation of shared concern.

The two sides will review the bilateralcooperation over the past time and seek orientations to strengthen the comprehensivecollaboration in the time ahead.

They are scheduled to sign a number of cooperationdocuments and issue a joint statement which will serve as a firm foundation tobolster the cooperation in all fields, Tang said.

According to the diplomat, the bilateral relationship hasmade progress so far this year, helping to deepen the traditional friendshipbetween the two neighbouring countries.

The two sides have continued paying attention to thepolitical ties, which play a key, orienting role in the relationship betweenVietnam and Cambodia, he said, highlighting regular high-level meetings andcontacts, both online and in-person, via Party, State, Government and NationalAssembly channels, and people-to-people exchanges.

Through the visits, the two countries’ leaders have reaffirmedthe significance of the bilateral relationship, and their resolve to foster thepolitical ties, the ambassador said.

Cooperation in national defence, security and externalaffairs has also been continuously consolidated and enhanced in an intensive,pragmatic and effective manner as an important pillar of the Vietnam-Cambodiarelations.

The diplomat also emphasised the regular exchange ofinformation and experience between the two countries, helping to preventactivities by hostile forces against Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as their relations.

The two sides have conducted land and sea jointpatrols, jointly held the first border defence exchange at the ministeriallevel, and worked together to build, consolidate and manage their common borderline of peace, stability and cooperation.

Joint efforts have been made to repatriate remains ofVietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives during warsin Cambodia.

Ambassador Tang said the two sides are accelerating negotiationsto complete the border demarcation and marker planting of the remaining 16% ofthe border line.

For cooperation in economy, trade and investment, theambassador said two-way trade in the first 10 months of this year exceeded 9billion USD, and the two countries are coordinating to sign a border tradeagreement within the framework of PM Chinh’s visit to Cambodia.

The diplomat also highlighted collaboration ineducation and training, as well as cooperation between ministries, agencies NAcommittees and mass organisations of the two countries.

On this occasion, PM Chinh will attend the 40th and41st Summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and relatedsummits that will take place in Phnom Penh from November 10-13.

Tang commended preparations for the events by host Cambodiain terms of contents, reception and logistics, and expressed his belief thatthe they will be a success, meeting wishes of ASEAN countries and theinternational community./.