Cambodia-Vietnam Relations Become Stronger after Enduring Countless Historical Periods Together

AKP Phnom Penh, June 24, 2024 --

The bilateral relations between Cambodia and Vietnam have stood the test of time and become even stronger in the face of current global uncertainty. They have been unceasingly strengthened and expanded based on the spirt of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation.”

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Nguyen Huy Taing made the remarks in a recent interview with the Cambodian state-owned Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) on the occasion of the 57th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring nations.

The two countries have always valued, enhanced and broadened the traditional relations and cooperation between their Party, State, Government and people, said H.E. Ambassador, adding that meetings and exchanges of visits between the two countries' leaders have been frequent, through which a number of strategic agreements to guide their general relations have been reached.

H.E. Ambassador also highlighted key achievements in the relations between Cambodia and Vietnam in recent years, stressing that in the COVID-19 crisis, both sides have maintained their contacts, shared difficulties, and assisted each other, both materially and spiritually.

With their firm determination and efforts, he stressed, Vietnam and Cambodia have achieved the land border demarcation and border marker planting work at 84 percent and are committed to working together to find a solution for the remaining 16 percent. They are also determined to build a common border of peace, friendship, and development.

On trade and investment cooperation, Vietnam is among the ten biggest investors in Cambodia with 208 investment projects worth nearly US$3 billion, while the Kingdom has injected US$75.76 million in 35 investment projects in Vietnam, H.E. Nguyen Huy Taing continued.

During the COVID-19 spread, in 2020, the two-way trade between the two neighbouring countries was at US$5.32 billion, but the figure jumped to US$9.53 billion and US$10,.57 billion in 2021 and 2022, respectively, before went down to US$8.6 billion in 2023. This year, the bilateral trade volume is expected to reach over US$10 billion.

For education, vocational training and human resource development cooperation, Cambodia annually grants scholarships to 35 Vietnamese students and receives hundreds of scholarships from Vietnam, H.E. Ambassador said.

Cambodia and Vietnam should continue to take advantage from the potential of their tourism cooperation, and strive to connect and attract tourists from third countries. In 2024, the number of Vietnamese tourists to Cambodia is expected to rank second with about 1 million, and at the same time Vietnam is expected to attract about 450,000 Cambodian tourists.

In the past 57 years, both Cambodia and Vietnam have gone through countless important historical periods together. The people of the two countries have always united, supported and helped each other in the cause of national liberation and independence. Cambodia has helped Vietnam on territorial unification, while Vietnam has assisted Cambodia to overthrow the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime.

Besides, H.E. Nguyen Huy Taing shared his perspectives on the future cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam to achieve Cambodia’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2050 and that of Vietnam to become a high-income economy by 2045.