Viet Nam, Cambodia vow to foster economic linkages

The agreements were reached at the 20^th meeting of the Viet Nam-Cambodia Joint Commission on economic, cultural, scientific, and technological cooperation that took place in Ha Noi on March 21. 

The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn. 

Both diplomats expressed their delight on the fruitful developments in the bilateral relationship. In politics-diplomacy alone, both countries organized a high-level meeting between the two Parties in Ha Noi in recent February, official visits of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Cambodia in 2022 as well as a range of activities within the framework of the Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Year and the 55th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship in 2022. 

The two-way trade value in 2022 increased by 11 percent, to US$10.57 billion. Viet Nam is currently the third largest trade partner of Cambodia in ASEAN. 

Viet Nam has poured US$2.94 billion in 205 active projects in Cambodia, taking the lead among ASEAN Member States and ranking fifth among nations and territories investing in Cambodia. 

At the meeting, both sides consented to maintain high-level meetings and consultancy and bilateral mechanisms and effectively implement inked agreements.  

The two diplomats pledged to strengthen collaboration in fields of transport connectivity, tourism, agro-aquatic-forestry sector, telecommunications, information technology, labor, natural resources and environment. 

The two nations should bolster local-to-local exchanges and coordination within the framework of the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam Development Triangle Area as well as work together to seek for, gather and repatriate remains of Vietnamese fallen soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia, they suggested. 

The 21^st meeting of the joint commission will be held in Cambodia next year.