Prime Minister receives Cambodian Deputy PM, Minister of Interior

Pham lauded the successful outcomes of the talks between Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng and Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam.

He proposed the two ministries continue working together in the fight against crimes, particularly trans-national crimes in fields of drug, human trafficking, fraud and gambling as well as repatriate Vietnamese citizens who are being detained and forced to work in illegal gambling establishments in Cambodia.

The Prime Minister expected that Cambodian functional agencies will tackle difficulties for Vietnamese community and help them stabilize their lives in the country.

Economic cooperation is the spotlight in the bilateral relationship, noted both leaders, adding that the two-way trade hit US$10.6 billion in 2022, up 11 percent against the previous year.

Besides, Viet Nam has taken the lead among the ASEAN Member States and ranked fifth among nations and territories investing in Cambodia with US$2.94 billion in 205 valid projects.

Potential remains huge for economic cooperation between the two nations, they said, emphasizing the need to boost infrastructure connectivity and join hand in building an independent, self-reliant and integrated economy.

The two nations should make preparations for organizing a conference between their border provinces and opening two new border gates, thus building a border line of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, they reiterated.

The host and the guest vowed to enhance mutual support at multilateral forums, advocate the principled stance of ASEAN on the East Sea issue, uphold international law, fully and effectively implement the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and build a substantive, efficient and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982)./.