Phnom Penh (VNA) – Vietnam andCambodia have issued a joint statement on the state visit to Cambodia fromFebruary 25 to 26 by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam CentralCommittee and President Nguyen Phu Trong.

The statement notes that during the trip, theVietnamese leader had talks with Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech PreahBoromneath Norodom Sihamoni; visited Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk;and met with Senate President Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum, Presidentof the National Assembly Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, andPresident of the Cambodian People’s Party and Prime Minister Samdech Akka MohaSena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

The leaders informed each other about theirrespective countries’ current situation, discussed issues of bilateralcooperation, and exchanged views on international and regional issues of commonconcern.

The two sides expressed their delight at thesound development of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnamand Cambodia, which have helped ensure peace and stability as well as broughtpractical benefits to the two peoples.

The Vietnamese side stressed that it alwaystreasures the good sentiment of and wants to express gratitude to late KingNorodom Sihanouk, King Norodom Sihamoni, and the leaders and people of Cambodiafor their precious support for the Vietnamese people during the struggle fornational independence and reunification in the past and development efforts atpresent.

Both sides welcomed the ruling on the genocideof the Khmer Rouge regime issued on November 16, 2018 by the internationaltribunal. The Cambodian side expressed profound thanks for the great supportand assistance of Vietnamese leaders and people throughout history. Theyaffirmed that the Cambodian people will never forget Vietnam’s pricelesssupport for their fight to liberate the country from the Khmer Rouge genocidalregime in 1979, along with its contributions to the recovery and rebuilding ofCambodia.

Vietnamese and Cambodian leaders shared the viewthat the safeguarding and development of the sound neighbourliness, traditionalfriendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability are thecommon responsibility of both nations and peoples for the sake of the twocountries’ sustainable development and bright future, as well as for peace,stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, accordingto the statement.

They agreed to intensify political relations;improve the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms; and expand tiesbetween ministries, sectors, and people’s organisations.

The leaders also agreed to strongly promotepartnerships in economy, culture, education, healthcare, and science-technologyon the basis of each country’s potential and advantages. They said measureswill be carried out to improve their countries’ investment environment andboost bilateral trade to 5 billion USD in the near future after the figurereached 4.7 billion USD in 2018.

Both sides emphasised the importance of andconcurred on the enhancing of defence-security cooperation in the principles ofnot allowing any political or military forces to use one country’s territory toharm the other’s security, and resolving problems between countries by peacefulmeans.

Vietnam and Cambodia will step up coordinationto ensure political stability, security, and social order and safety in bothcountries. They will also increase cooperation in natural disaster preventionand control, the organisation of joint search and rescue exercises, the fightagainst transnational crimes, and efforts to search for and repatriate theremains of Vietnam’s volunteer soldiers in Cambodia.

The Vietnamese side thanked Cambodia for itssupport for and fair treatment of people of Vietnamese origin.

The two sides also affirmed their commitment torespecting and fully implementing border demarcation agreements along withborder-related deals between their countries. They highly valued the efforts ofthe joint committee on completing 84 percent of the land border demarcation andborder marker planting work.

They agreed to regularly share information,coordinate closely, and support each other in international and regional issues– especially within the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN), the United Nations, and the Mekong subregion’s cooperation mechanisms.

According to the joint statement, the leadersreiterated the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and safetyof navigation and aviation in the East Sea. They agreed to promote the peacefulsettlement of disputes in the East Sea, self-restraint, and no use of or threatto use force, while complying with the broadly recognised principles ofinternational law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

They pledged to join relevant parties in fullyand effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theEast Sea and promoting the early finalisation of a substantive and effectiveCode of Conduct in the waters.

The two sides high valued the fine outcomes andhistoric significance of the state visit by Party General Secretary andPresident Trong.

The Vietnamese leader invited King NorodomSihamoni, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, and other Cambodian leadersto visit Vietnam. The Cambodian hosts accepted the invitation with pleasure.–VNA