Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh and Deputy PMand Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia PrakSokhonn renewed the efforts to unceasingly cement and deepen the comprehensivecooperation and friendly neighbourliness between the two countries in the newsituation.

The leaders held talks in Hanoi on November 27 during the Cambodianguest’s two-day official visit to Vietnam from November 26.

They noted sound developments in the bilateral ties since the 16th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee in May 2018, especially thetwo-way trade value that is likely surpassing 4 billion USD this year.

They agreed to push for the implementation of measures to facilitate trade, inparticular border trade, speed up transport connectivity, and apply the “one-stop”mechanism at border gates to bring two-way trade to 5 billion USD.

Prak Sokhonn suggested Vietnamese businesses continue expanding theirinvestment, affirming that the Cambodian Government will work harder to make iteasier for them to feel safe when investing in Cambodia.

The leaders agreed to continue the sound cooperation in education-training,tourism, and cultural and people-to-people exchange to consolidate thesolidarity and educate younger generations on the historical tradition ofVietnam-Cambodia ties.

They reached a consensus on increasing bilateral coordination toactively carry out agreements reached by top leaders pertaining to the landborder demarcation and marker planting, the processing of legal papers forCambodians with Vietnamese origin, and the removal of floating houses of thoseresiding on Tonle Sap Lake in Kampong Chhnang province, to bolster thebilateral ties in the future.

They spoke highly of the countries’ cooperation at regional and internationalforums, asserting the importance of reinforcing the unity and central role ofASEAN in the regional architecture as well as maintaining firmly the group’sgoals and basic principles.

The leaders agreed to promote collaboration in the framework of the Greater MekongSub-region and the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle to narrow thedevelopment gap, and manage and use Mekong river water resources sustainably.

They affirmed mutual support and close coordination in 2020 when Vietnamperforms the ASEAN Chair and Cambodia hosts the 13th ASEM summit.

On the East Sea issue, they stressed the importance of maintainingpeace, security and stability in the waters, addressing disputes by peacefulmeasures on the basis of international law and the UNCLOS 1982, and speeding upthe negotiations on an effective, practical code of conduct in the East Sea(COC) in line with international law. 

They agreed to carry out periodical exchanges between the two foreignministries to boost their information sharing and coordination, and promotetraining and research cooperation between the Vietnam Academy of Diplomacy andthe newly-established Academy of Diplomacy and International Relations ofCambodia.-VNA