Phnom Penh (FN), Dec. 13 – Jean Francois Tan, Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, presented fruitful outcomes of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet's official visit to Viet Nam.

The minister delegate addressed a press conference on 12 December 2023, following the conclusion of Samdech Thipadei's two-day official visit to Viet Nam.

Jean Francois Tan underlined that during the official visit, Samdech Thipadei engaged in bilateral discussions with various Vietnamese leaders, including the prime minister, the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, the president, the president of the National Assembly of Viet Nam, chairperson of the Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Association, and the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Additionally, Samdech Thipadei held working discussions with the private sector to seek economic benefits for Cambodian citizens, attracting Vietnamese companies to increase investment and persuading investors to explore opportunities in the kingdom.

In the economic and investment domain, Jean Francois Tain affirmed that Prime Minister Hun Manet and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh co-presided over the Cambodia-Viet Nam Trade and Investment Promotion Forum. Furthermore, Samdech Thipadei met with leaders of six Vietnamese companies, namely Viettel, Vietjet Group, Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG), Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BIDV), Truong Hai Group Corporation (THACO), and Vingroup Corporation.

"The Cambodian and Vietnamese prime ministers also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in science, technology, and innovation between the Cambodian Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) and the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST). Another MoU focused on cooperation between the Cambodian National Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations (NIDIR) and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. Lastly, an MoU on cooperation between the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry,” the minister delegate underscored.

The official visit of Samdech Thipadei to Viet Nam affirmed the unchanged Cambodia’s foreign policy and signified a further deepening of the long-standing relationship based on the spirit of "Good Neighborliness, Traditional Friendship, Comprehensive Cooperation, and Long-term Stability between Cambodia and Viet Nam."

As of 2022, the Cambodia-Viet Nam trade volume reached more than USD 10 billion, with both sides aiming to achieve USD 20 billion by 2030. Both countries are continuing to accelerate the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway and the Ho Chi Minh-Mok Pai Expressway. Additionally, Samdech Thipadei highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation in various potential sectors, especially the improvement of cooperation mechanisms in trilateral tourism, as well as the ongoing border demarcation between the two countries, which is now only 16 percent away from completion.
=FRESH NEWS