Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh’s upcoming trip to Cambodia offers an opportunity for Vietnam to affirm theconsistent foreign policy of the Vietnamese Party and State.

The PM will pay an official visit to Cambodia fromNovember 8-9 and attend the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and related Summitsfrom November 10-13, at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart SamdechTecho Hun Sen – the ASEAN Chair in 2022.

This is the first visit by Chinh in his capacity asPrime Minister of Vietnam, and it holds significance in various aspects.

It takes place in the Vietnam-Cambodia FriendshipYear 2022, marking the 55th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties.The two PMs will review the Vietnam-Cambodia relations, and outline new impulsesand measures to develop the relationship in more pragmatic,effective and reliable manner.

The PM’s attendance at the 40th and 41st SEANSummits and related Summits will be a chance for Vietnam to affirm the consistentpolicy of the Party and State in the spirit of independence,self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations, intensiveand extensive international integration, and substantive contributions to ASEAN's common affairs.

Vietnam and Cambodia established diplomatic ties onJune 24, 1967. In 2005, the two countries’ leaders agreed on the newmotto of the bilateral relations that is “good neighbourliness, traditionalfriendship, and comprehensive, sustainable, long-term cooperation.” Since then,the relationship has been consolidated and strengthened in all fields, bringingpragmatic interests to the people of both countries, and positively contributingto peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

Over the past years, the bilateral political ties havedeveloped fruitfully, as reflected through regular visits, meetings andexchanges in different forms, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Progress has also been made in cooperation between ministries,agencies, localities, and people-to-people exchanges, especially in borderareas. Meanwhile, collaboration in national defence and security has beenstrengthened.

In 2019, Vietnam and Cambodia signed two legaldocuments recognising outcomes of land border demarcation and marker planting,with 84% of the workload completed. They are accelerating negotiations for the settlementof the remainder to further build a common border line of peace, friendship,cooperation and sustainable development.

The two Governments have also pledged to create favourableconditions for their respective citizens to live in each other’s territories inline with laws of the host countries.

Cooperation in economy, trade and investment has grownquickly, with two-way trade reaching 9.54 billion USD in 2021, up 79.1% fromthe previous year. In the first nine months of this year, the figure was 8.45billion USD, a -year-on-year rise of 16.7%, of which Vietnam enjoyed a tradesurplus of 487.7 million USD.

Vietnam is running 198 valid projects in theneighbouring country with total registered capital of 2.92 billion USD, rankingfirst among ASEAN nations and fifth among countries investing in Cambodia.

Partnerships in education, training, transport,culture, health care and telecommunications have also received attention fromboth sides. Notably, the two countries have supported each other in the fightagainst the COVID-19 pandemic.

They have closely coordinated at international,regional, sub-regional forums, especially ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms,contributing to raising the prestige and position of each country in the regionand the world.

Regarding prospects of the bilateral ties, CambodianAmbassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth said the two countries aim to consolidatetheir solidarity and cooperation in the time ahead.

They will continue to promote the political ties toensure the general orientations of the bilateral relationship, consolidate politicaltrust and step up cooperation in national defence and security, externalaffairs and economy, he said.

The 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and related Summits markthe resumption of direct meetings and dialogues between regional leaders after atwo-year hiatus induced by the pandemic.

The events will offer opportunities for the leaders tocompare notes on efforts in building the ASEAN Community and enhancingsolidarity and centrality of the ten-member grouping, and review and defineorientations for the relations between the bloc and its partners.

They will also exchange views on many strategic issuesin the region and the world.

Within the framework of the summits, there will bemore than 20 activities with the participation of leaders from the ASEANmember countries, and 10 partners.

On this occasion, ASEAN will announce theestablishment of its comprehensive strategic partnership with the US and India.

The participating leaders are scheduled to approve andrecognise more than 100 documents on many important cooperation areas withinASEAN and between the bloc and its partners.

PM Chinh will deliver speeches at the summits, expressingVietnam’s viewpoints and stance and raising proposals to strengthen solidarity,unity and centrality of ASEAN, enhance regional connectivity, promote cooperationin the fields of common interest, and foster relations between ASEAN and itspartners.

Vietnam will use the occasion to share its policies,efforts and successes in socio-economic recovery and development after thepandemic.

The PM will also meet leaders of ASEAN members and partners to exchangeviews on issues of shared concern./.