Hanoi (VNA) – Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s upcomingstate visit to Cambodia from July 20-22 will open a new stage of development inrelations between the two countries.

The visit, the second state-level visit to the neighbouring nation by the Partyleader, will be made on the occasion of the 50th anniversary ofdiplomatic ties (June 24) and in the context of sound overall relations. Itaims to promote trust between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and theCambodian People’s Party (CPP) and speed up the implementation of agreements signedbetween the two nations.

The visit is also expected to create favourable conditions for the two sides toaddress existing problems in their relations, bringing relations to a deeperand more sustainable level.

In a message sent to Head of State of Cambodia Norodom Sihanouk on June 23,1967, President Ho Chi Minh said the establishment of diplomatic relationsbetween the two countries was a bright manifestation of the close friendshipand solidarity in combat. It was a historic event in the relationship betweenVietnam and Cambodia, and positive factor in maintaining peace in Indochina andSoutheast Asia. The relations have been nurtured and developed by both nationsover the past five decades.

The two countries have pursued a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance,diversification and multilateralisation of international relations. They have attachedimportance to consolidating and enhancing bilateral ties in the spirit of “goodneighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation andlong-lasting sustainability” and on the basis of respect for each other’sindependence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and no interference in eachother’s internal affairs.

Despite complex regional and global developments in recent years, Vietnam andCambodia have still enjoyed fruitful relations, contributing to the building ofa peaceful and stable environment for stronger socio-economic development andensuring the independence and sovereignty of each nation.

The two sides have maintained and effectively promoted bilateral cooperationmechanisms while increasing the exchange of visits and meetings between theirsenior leaders. Vietnam and Cambodia exchanged 150 delegations of all levels in2016 and in the first half of 2017. Various cooperation agreements have beeninked, creating a base to branch out relations between the two nations.

Economic collaboration has been a catalyst to promote the two peoples’solidarity and friendship. Vietnam has 183 investment projects with totalregistered capital of 2.8 billion USD in Cambodia. Projects intelecommunications, aviation and agriculture have proved efficient. The twocountries have seen an increase in bilateral trade which has averaged 3 billionUSD per year in the last five years.

Along with supporting Cambodia’s economic development, Vietnamese enterpriseshave been responsible for social welfare in the host nation and improving locallivelihoods. Vietnam aims to pour 6 billion USD into Cambodia by 2020, focusingin the fields of Vietnam’s strength and Cambodia’s potential.

Vietnam has granted thousands of short-term and long-term scholarships forCambodia while Cambodia helps Vietnam train bachelors in Khmer language andculture.

Relations between bordering provinces have flourished. Twinning relations havebeen set up between Prec Sihanuk province of Cambodia and Hai Phong city ofVietnam. The Cambodian locality also has relations with Kien Giang province andsome Mekong Delta localities.

The two countries have well implemented cooperation agreements in defence andsecurity to ensure political and social stability in each nation. They havealso coordinated at regional and global forums, particularly in the frameworkof the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and theAsia-Europe Meeting.-VNA