Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will pay an officialvisit to Cambodia from November 8-9 and attend the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and related Summits from November 10-13, at an invitation of hisCambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen – the ASEAN 2022 Chair.

On the occasion, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign AffairsNguyen Minh Vu granted an interview to the media on the significance of thevisit as well as Vietnam’s role, position in ASEAN and its contributions to theASEAN Community building.

Vu highlighted that this is the first officialvisit to Cambodia by Chinh in his role as the Prime Minister, and it holds greatsignificance in various aspects.

The visit takes place in the Vietnam-Cambodia FriendshipYear 2022 in celebration of the 55th anniversary of theestablishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, and marks the official resumptionof comprehensive cooperation following the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in economics, trade andtourism.

In addition, as this year Cambodia is the host of ASEANconferences and those between ASEAN and its partners, and Vietnam is assumingseveral important multilateral posts, this visit offers an opportunity for thetwo leaders to exchange views and stances on regional and international issuesand support each other at multilateral forums, stated Vu.

According to him, cooperation in economics, trade andinvestment, and border, security and defence collaboration will be further steppedup after the visit.

One of the highlights of Chinh’s trip will be theVietnam-Cambodia trade, investment promotion forum during which the two leaders are scheduled to deliver speeches, showing the two Governments’special attention to the business communities and their determination to make economics-trade-investment a pillar in the bilateral relations.

Regarding defence - security - border cooperation, the twosides are expected to discuss measures to coordinate in preventing and fighting all kinds of crimes, and thoroughly solving the situation of Vietnamesecitizens being forced to work illegally in entertainment businessestablishments in Cambodia; to raise legal status and create favourableconditions for Vietnamese people in Cambodia to do business and live in astable and convenient manner; and to closely coordinate in border managementand protection, promote demarcation and border marker planting to build aborderline of peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development betweenthe two countries.

Mentioning Vietnam’s role and position in ASEAN as well as its contributions tothe community building, Deputy Minister Vu stated that Vietnam has beenproactive in promoting and making important contributions to shaping ASEAN'smajor decisions, and always working as one of the leading countries in promotingefforts and solutions to affirm ASEAN's responsibility and contributions to thecommon issues of the world and the region.

Moreover, many cooperation initiatives raised by Vietnamhave gained international applauses, he said, taking practical and urgentsolutions to help the ASEAN Community overcome the pandemic as examples.

With a balanced and harmonious approach, Vietnam has always beenseen as playing the role of a "bridge" helping narrow differences andincrease similarities between ASEAN countries as well as between the bloc andits partners, added Vu.

Regarding the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summitsand related Summits, the official showed his belief that they will affirm thebloc’s important contributions to peace, stability and prosperity in the regionand the world./.