Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucreceived First Vice President of the Cambodian Senate Nay Pena in Hanoi onAugust 9, suggesting that Vietnam and Cambodia should strengthen their solidarityand friendship, and support each other’s legitimate interests amid complicateddevelopments in the regional and global situations.

The PM welcomed the Cambodian delegation’s officialfriendship visit to Vietnam at a time when the two nations are celebrating the50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (June 24), describing it as vividevidence of their growing relations.

First Vice President Nay Pena said his visitconveys a message about the two countries’ sound relations. On behalf of theCambodian leaders and people, he thanked Vietnam for its wholehearted supportto the Cambodian people in the fight against the Pol Pot genocidal regime.

He informed about the results of Cambodia’scommune/ward elections last June, in which the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP)won a big victory. In recent years, Cambodia has achieved an annual averagegrowth of 7 percent, making it a middle-income country, he said.

The Cambodian leader also briefed his host aboutthe outcomes of his earlier talks with Vice Chairwoman of the National Assemblyof Vietnam Tong Thi Phong, during which the two sides shared experience inpromoting socio-economic development and parliamentary cooperation.

PM Phuc stressed that the Government and peopleof Vietnam are happy to witness the enormous and comprehensive achievementsthat Cambodia has attained over the past years. Cambodia’s prestige and positionhave continually been improved in the region and the world, he said.

The PM congratulated Cambodia on the results ofthe commune/ward elections and expressed his belief that the upcoming generalelection would be a success. He also believed that under the judicious reign ofKing Norodom Sihamoni and the leadership of the Senate, the National Assemblyand the Government of Cambodia, the Cambodian people would continue obtainingeven greater accomplishments in building a country of peace, stability andprosperous development.

💟[Photos: Milestones in 50 years of Vietnam - Cambodia diplomatic ties]

The Vietnamese leader also noted with pleasurethe continuous development of the traditional friendship and cooperationbetween the two countries, which have brought practical benefits to theirpeople.

Economic, trade and investment relations aregrowing strongly, making Vietnam one of the leading trade and investment partnersof Cambodia, he noted, asking both sides to do their best to soon raisebilateral trade to 5 billion USD.

He also underlined the need to increasepeople-to-people exchanges, especially between the youth, and enhancecoordination among relevant agencies to soon complete the land borderdemarcation and border marker planting, thereby helping to build the sharedborderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

PM Phuc also called on First Vice President NayPena and the Cambodian Senate to further help Vietnamese-Cambodians stabilisetheir lives in the country so that they can contribute to Cambodia’sdevelopment and the good neighbourliness between the two nations.

On the occasion of ASEAN’s 50th foundinganniversary, the PM also expressed his wish that the two countries willcontinue unanimously contributing to the bloc’s development.-VNA