Prime Minister holds talks with Cambodian counterpart

The two Prime Ministers agreed that over the past year, the Governments of both countries have effectively implemented the Conclusions of the meeting between the two Parties and three Parties (the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), and the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) this February), proactively and decisively coordinated the implementation of cooperation plans, bringing about substantive outcomes.

Political and diplomatic relations have been continuously consolidated and strengthened. Bilateral cooperation mechanisms have continued to prove effective, including the 13th Conference on Cooperation and Development of Border Provinces  on November 27–29). Defense and security cooperation has become increasingly substantive, illustrated by the trilateral meeting of the Ministers of National Defense of Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam. Policy dialogues, defense exchanges, and ministerial-level meetings have contributed to deepening bilateral cooperation.

Economic, trade, and investment cooperation has grown strongly. Bilateral trade reached US$10.4 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, up 12.7 percent year-on-year, and is expected to reach US$12 billion for the full year. Viet Nam is currently Cambodia's third-largest trading partner globally and the largest within ASEAN. Viet Nam is also the fifth-largest foreign investor in Cambodia, while Cambodia remains Viet Nam's second-largest overseas investment destination.

Striving for US$20 billion trade turnover

The two Prime Ministers highly valued the significance of inaugurating the Tan Nam – Meun Chey international border gate in enhancing connectivity, economic and trade activities, and people-to-people exchanges. They affirmed their commitment to continue improving the border gate system, upgrading cross-border transport infrastructure, and creating new momentum for regional economic development.

Both leaders agreed that the two sides must work closely to manage and maintain security and order in border areas, prevent cross-border crime, smuggling, and illegal activities, and soon conclude the "Agreement on Border Gate Management" and the "Agreement on Border Management Regulations" to facilitate cross-border trade and border gate operations in line with the development goals of both countries in the new period.

The two sides vowed to closely coordinate to further elevate bilateral relations, focusing on strengthening high-level contacts, exchanges of delegations at all levels and across all channels, and promoting existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms. They also agreed to consolidate defense and security cooperation; consistently uphold the principle of not allowing hostile forces to use one country's territory to undermine the other; maintain security and order in border areas; combat cross-border crimes and online fraud; and coordinate efforts to counter hostile distortions, fake news, and misinformation aimed at inciting division and sabotaging Viet Nam–Cambodia relations.

They concurred to prioritize breakthroughs in economic cooperation, strengthen linkages and connectivity between the two economies—including cooperation in digital economy development, infrastructure connectivity, and policy and institutional alignment, particularly in trade, investment, transport, culture, and tourism. The two sides also agreed to accelerate transport and logistics connectivity and develop border gates and commercial infrastructure, striving to raise bilateral trade to US$20 billion in the near future.

To preserve and nurture the historical values of the relationship, the two Prime Ministers underscored the importance of promoting awareness of the tradition of solidarity and friendship between Viet Nam and Cambodia among the people of both countries, especially younger generations, while stepping up people-to-people exchanges through innovative forms.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Viet Nam stands ready to support Cambodia in improving human resource quality and expanding scholarship opportunities for Cambodian students.

The two Prime Ministers stressed the importance of maintaining a peaceful, stable, cooperative, and sustainably developing borderline. They affirmed continued coordination in addressing emerging issues in a timely and appropriate manner, including environmental protection in border areas; promoting negotiations to settle the remaining 16 percent of the borderline that has yet to be demarcated; and jointly managing land and maritime borders in a spirit of understanding, mutual respect, and compliance with international law.

On this occasion, Pham requested that Cambodia continue to pay attention to resolving the legal status of people of Vietnamese origin in Cambodia so they can stabilize their lives and contribute to Cambodia's prosperity and to the friendship between the two countries.

Regarding the Cambodia–Thailand border tensions, Pham affirmed that Viet Nam is closely following the situation and will continue contributing to peaceful solutions. 

He called on Thailand and Cambodia to exercise restraint, engage in dialogue, respect each other's legitimate interests, and adhere to peace agreements. 

Pham said Viet Nam values and supports efforts to resolve disputes through peaceful means, and believes that long-term stability is the best solution for both Cambodia and Thailand, for ASEAN unity, and for the peaceful, stable, cooperative, and development-oriented environment of the region and the world./.