VN, Cambodia work for deeper and firmer relations

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, Ha Noi, December 26, 2013 - Photo: VGP

At the talks, held after an official welcome ceremony for Prime Minister Hun Sen, PM Dung hailed his guest’s first official overseas visit to Viet Nam since he was re-elected as Cabinet leader. 

PM Hunsen took the occasion to congratulate Viet Nam on her membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council in the 2004-06 tenure and expressed profound thanks for Vietnam’s wholehearted, valuable assistance to his country in the past and at present. 

The two PMs said they are pleased with developments in the two countries’ relations in recent time. 
They agreed to lift two-way trade to US$5 billion by 2015 by deepening all-around cooperation, particularly in trade, tourism, telecommunications, aviation, banking, oil and gas, industrial plant farming and agriculture. 

They vowed to facilitate all-level visits to raise mutual understanding and all possible support to Vietnamese firms in Cambodia. 

Both leaders reached a consensus on stronger partnerships in the fight against terrorism, trans-national crime, smuggling, and drug and human trafficking, reiterating the observance of the principle of not allowing any hostile forces to use one’s territory to harm security in the other as well as interfere in the other’s internal affairs. 

PM Dung took the occasion to thank relevant Cambodian agencies and authorities for their assistance in the search and repatriation of Vietnamese martyrs’ remains over the past time. 

The leaders agreed to jointly host activities to mark the 35th anniversary of Cambodia’s victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime. 

The leaders reiterated their determination to conclude the border demarcation as soon as possible. 
Speaking highly of Cambodia’s support for the Vietnamese community to live and work in the country, the host leader also promised to help the Cambodians in Viet Nam. 

On the East Sea issues, they consented to uphold ASEAN’s common stance mentioned in its Six-Point Principle on the East Sea, placing importance on maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, settling disputes by peaceful means in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea while speeding up the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and the formulation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea between ASEAN and China. 

Discussing regional and global issues of mutual interest, both host and guest committed to working closely together at multilateral frameworks like the United Nations, ASEAN and other regional and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms. 

Following the talks, they witnessed the signing of 10 cooperation deals on extradition, trade promotion, transit of goods, a credit for Long Binh – Charay Thom bridge construction, education, media, public security, oil and gas, and fertilisers. 

PM Hun Sen’s visit to December 28 is made at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.