Cambodian King Welcomes Vietnamese President
Phnom Penh, The Gulf Observer: Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni hosted an official welcome ceremony for Vietnamese President To Lam at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh today. The Vietnamese leader is on a state visit to Cambodia on July 12 and 13 at the invitation of the King.
Following the welcome ceremony, President Lam held a meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni. This visit, part of President Lam’s first tour abroad as the State leader of Vietnam, underscores the commitment to fostering political trust and promoting comprehensive cooperation between the two nations. It also reaffirms Vietnam’s consistent policy of enhancing relations with Cambodia and strengthening the trust and close-knit ties between the high-ranking leaders of both countries.
The bilateral relations between Vietnam and Cambodia have been robust, with Party-to-Party cooperation playing a central role in shaping the orientations of the two countries’ ties. Defence-security cooperation remains a pillar, while economic, trade, and investment partnerships have shown remarkable growth. Việt Nam is currently Cambodia’s third largest trading partner globally and the largest within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Bilateral trade increased from US$5.32 billion in 2020 to $10.57 billion in 2022. Despite the global economic downturn, the two-way trade maintained a high level, reaching $8.57 billion last year. In the first five months of 2024, Vietnam-Cambodia trade hit $4.6 billion and is expected to reach the $10-billion mark again this year. Vietnam now has 205 valid projects with a combined registered capital of $2.94 billion, ranking first among ASEAN nations and among the top five countries with the highest direct investment in Cambodia. Meanwhile, Cambodia has 35 valid projects worth $76 million in Vietnam.
In addition to economic ties, the two countries have enhanced collaboration in education, transport, culture, social affairs, tourism, and science-technology. Notable progress has been made in addressing legal papers for Vietnamese-origin people. Exchanges and cooperation between people’s organizations have also been maintained and reformed.
Furthermore, Vietnam and Cambodia continue to cooperate, coordinate, and support each other at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, ASEAN, and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.
President Lâm’s state visit to Cambodia is a significant step in reinforcing the enduring and comprehensive relationship between the two neighboring countries.
