Hun Sen, President of the Senate and leader of the Cambodian People’s Party, expressed his confidence that Vietnam’s newly elected President, Luong Cuong, will further deepen the strong ties between the two nations as “good brothers, good neighbours, and good bilateral partners.”
In his congratulatory message, he extended heartfelt congratulations to Cuong on behalf of the Cambodian Senate and himself for his recent election as President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam by the National Assembly of Vietnam. He attributed Cuong’s election victory to his exceptional leadership, dedication to the nation, and significant contributions to the Vietnamese people.
Mr Hun Sen expressed confidence that under Cuong’s leadership, Vietnam will continue to grow its path to prosperity, achieving high middle-income status and eventually becoming a high-income country by 2050. He added that the historical solidarity and long-term cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam, grounded in mutual respect and trust, would continue to flourish under Cuong’s guidance.
He also affirmed his eagerness to work closely with Cuong, the National Assembly, and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) to promote the interests of both nations, contributing to peace, security and prosperity within the region and beyond.
Policy analyst Seun Sam commented on the significance of Mr Hun Sen’s congratulations, noting that engaging with senior dignitaries in the region is a wise move for Cambodia to expand both bilateral relations and multilateral partnerships. He added that mutual respect is crucial for maintaining and fostering strong relations with neighbouring countries and other nations globally.
Kin Phea, director general of the Institute of International Relations at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, highlighted the longstanding defence and political cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam since 1979. “Politically, we see the leaders of the Senate, the National Assembly, the government, and the ruling party of the two countries often exchange official visits,” he noted.
Phea also emphasised the growing personal ties between Cambodian and Vietnamese people, citing instances where Cambodians have sought medical treatment in Vietnam and the scholarships provided by the Vietnamese government for Cambodian students each year. “Increasing cooperation between countries and their people as good neighbours is vital to avoid confusion or confrontation in any field,” he said.
During the celebration of Vietnam’s 79th National Day in Phnom Penh in September, Sok Chenda Sophea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that Cambodia-Vietnam relations are in the right direction, especially cooperation in areas such as investment, education, human resource development, defence and transnational crime prevention.
Nguyen Huy Tang, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia, underscored the shared history and strong bond between the two nations. He noted the positive growth in bilateral trade, with trade volume between Cambodia and Vietnam reaching $8.6 billion in 2023 and projected to exceed $10 billion by the end of 2024.
Source: khmertimeskh
