Vietnam, Cambodia look to forge stronger economic links

The official establishment of the two nations’ diplomatic relationship on June 24, 1967 marked a new chapter in a venerable history stretching back much further.

The 45th anniversary of this relationship, celebrated in 2012, saw both countries recall longstanding traditions of mutual support and the struggles for national independence and development that demanded considerable sacrifice.

Bilateral relations have expanded across various fields.Vietnam welcomed King Norodom Sihamoni’s visit in September 2012 and National Assembly Chairman Heng Samrin’s visit in July 2012. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung paid their own visits to Cambodia in December 2011 and February 2013 respectively.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived in Vietnam for a December 26–28 visit last year. Earlier this month National Assembly Chairman Hen Samrin attended celebrations of the 35th anniversary of Cambodia’s and Vietnam’s shared victory over the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime (January 7).

The brave service of Vietnamese veterans and volunteer soldiers consolidated Vietnamese-Cambodian solidarity and friendship.

Two-way trade is expected to reach US$5 billion by 2015, pushed along by deeper cooperation in cross-border trade, tourism, telecommunications, aviation, banking, oil and gas, industrial factories, and agriculture.

Trade already totalled US$3.3 billion in 2012, growing a further 8% over the first 10 months of 2013 to US$2.94 billion. Vietnam has invested over US$3 billion into 126 projects in Cambodia, focused on industrial agriculture, mining, oil and gas, electricity, telecommunications, and finance and banking.

The relationship has also seen huge improvements in science, education, healthcare, and tourism cooperation. Vietnam offers an impressive range of scholarships to Cambodian students and graduates, and defies economic presssures to extend its network of medical examination clinics in border areas.

Remarkable progress has been made in bilateral defence and security work.. Information sharing and joint training exercises and marine patrols are conducted regularly.

The two nations have also worked tirelessly to locate and repatriate the remains of Vietnamese martyrs who lost their lives during the war in Cambodia.

Border demarcation continues—Vietnam and Cambodia have identified have 239 places requiring border markers, erected 279 out of 371 markers, and delimited 850km of their 1,137km shared border. These efforts are instrumental to cultivating a border of peace, friendship, stability, and development.

Vietnam and Cambodia have worked closely together at regional and international forums. Both nations engage in diplomatic mechanisms like the Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit, the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and the United Nations and its associated bodies.

(Source:VOV)