Kunming (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh engaged in a bilateral meeting with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet in Kunming city, China, on November 6.

The event took place on the sidelines of the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit, the 10th Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, and the 11th Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Vietnam (CLMV) Cooperation Summit.

PM Chinh offered congratulations to his counterpart, leaders, and people of Cambodia on the country’s 71st National Day (November 9, 1953 - 2024) along with recent socio-economic development achievements. He voiced his belief that Cambodia will reap even more significant and comprehensive attainments in the time ahead.

He stated that the traditional solidarity, cohesion, and mutual assistance between Vietnam and Cambodia are a precious asset and an important factor in each country’s struggle for national liberation in the past as well as national development at present.

He also conveyed regards from Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to the Party and State leaders of Cambodia.

Meanwhile, PM Hun Manet congratulated Vietnam on its breakthrough achievements, particularly in socio-economic affairs, saying he believes that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, led by General Secretary To Lam, it will obtain greater attainments in national construction and development.

The two PMs noted with satisfaction the progress in the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between their countries, applauding the maintenance of frequent mutual visits and meetings at all levels.

They agreed to strengthen defence - security cooperation, closely work together to fight and thwart hostile forces’ plots to sabotage or drive a wedge into the two countries’ relations, encourage and create favourable conditions for investment and business activities of the countries’ enterprises, and strive to raise bilateral trade to 20 billion USD in the near future.

They also pledged to boost transport connectivity, especially in border areas, to facilitate cross-border trade and people-to-people connections between border provinces of Vietnam and Cambodia.

PM Chinh asked the two sides to accelerate border demarcation and marker planting in remaining areas.

In addition, the two sides agreed to increase exchanges and meetings between young leaders and young people of the countries to deepen mutual understanding and trust. They will also pay special attention to and promote cooperation in education and communications to improve younger generations’ awareness of the traditional solidarity and mutual assistance between the two nations.

The PMs underlined the historical significance and value of the Vietnam - Cambodia - Laos relations, noting that cooperation mechanisms among the three countries will be maintained for the sake of the countries’ people as well as peace, stability, and development in the region and the world at large.

PM Chinh accepted with pleasure his Cambodian counterpart’s invitation to pay an official visit to the neighbouring country./.