Phnom Penh (VNA)💮 – President Tran Dai Quang and his entourage concluded their two-day State visit to Cambodia in the afternoon of June 16.

In the morning the same day, the President paid courtesy calls to Great Supreme Patriarch of Mahanikaya sect Tep Vong at Unnalom pagoda and Great Supreme Patriarch of Dhammayuttikaya sect Bour Kry at Say Pope pagoda. He expressed his belief that with Tep Vong at the helm, Cambodia’s Buddhism will increasingly flourish, and with his role and prestige, the host will make more positive contributions to the solidarity, friendship and neighborliness between Vietnam and Cambodia. Tep Vong welcomed the visit, which was expected to tighten bilateral friendship and cooperation, and wished that on the back of past achievements, Vietnam - Cambodia’s ties will be everlasting. Meeting Bour Kry, the Vietnamese leader affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people will do their best to nurture the traditional friendship between the two nations. He hoped that Bour Kry would continue educating Buddhists and Cambodian people about the tradition of bilateral ties. The host, for his part, said Cambodian Buddhists wished for peace, prosperity and development for Cambodia and Vietnam, and for Southeast Asia in general. He stated confidently that the two countries will stand side by side to reinforce their solidarity and friendship. Also in the morning, President Quang held a meeting with representatives of Vietnamese businesses operating in Cambodia. Speaking at the event, the State leader spoke highly of the role of Vietnamese investors and the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Cambodia (AVIC), saying that successful joint projects in trade, investment and tourism have increased the State budget and created more jobs in Cambodia, thereby contributing to the bilateral comprehensive cooperation. The Vietnamese Party, State and government will continue devising strategies and adopting effective measures to facilitate long-term business operations in Cambodia and encourage Vietnamese investment in the neighboring countr, in the principle of equality and mutual benefit, he said. He also urged Vietnamese firms to improve their business efficiency in Cambodia, abide by the host country’s law and contribute to its social welfare. According to the AVIC, Vietnam has invested 3.2 billion USD in 172 projects in Cambodia, becoming the fifth largest investor in the country, mostly in the fields of finance-banking, energy, mining, agro-forestry and telecommunications. Vietnamese tourist arrivals to Cambodia have grown year on year, and Vietnam has been among the top sources of visitors to the country over the past five years. On the occasion, the President also presented a 1 million USD vocational training school to Prey Veng province. Concluding the visit, both sides issued a joint statement.-VNA