Also attending the meeting were Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Y Thong and leaders of several departments and units under the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh warmly welcomed Minister Chay Borin and the Cambodian delegation during their visit to Vietnam from March 24 to 26, 2026.

He highly appreciated the significance of the visit, noting that it aims to implement the cooperation agreement between Vietnam’s Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and Cambodia’s Ministry of Cult and Religion for the 2026–2030 period, recently signed in Phnom Penh. The agreement, he said, plays an important role in promoting collaboration in religious and ethnic affairs between the two countries, while contributing to strengthening the long-standing neighborly friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and sustainable partnership between Vietnam and Cambodia.

The Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that bilateral relations have continued to develop steadily and comprehensively across all fields. He expressed his satisfaction with the outcomes of the recent state visit to Cambodia by General Secretary To Lam, during which both sides successfully co-chaired a high-level meeting between the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party, as well as a meeting among the leaders of the three parties of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in February. These engagements, he noted, have enhanced political trust and opened new directions for cooperation, further consolidating the close solidarity between the two nations.

Mr. Chinh also welcomed the results of the talks between Minister Chay Borin and Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, expressing satisfaction with the positive outcomes of cooperation between the two ministries in recent years. The signing of the new agreement stands as vivid evidence of this close collaboration.

He commended the contributions of Cambodian Buddhism to the country’s prosperity and to regional development. The Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently respects and guarantees the right to freedom of belief and religion, creating favorable conditions for religious organizations to operate in accordance with the law. These efforts, he said, help strengthen national unity, maintain socio-political stability, and promote national development. Buddhism, alongside other religions, continues to receive attention and grow under the guiding principle of “good life, beautiful faith.”

Vietnam, he added, stands ready to enhance exchanges and share experiences with Cambodia in state management of religious affairs, expressing hope that both sides will continue to coordinate closely and deepen cooperation in this field.

He also stressed the importance of preventing hostile forces from exploiting ethnic and religious issues to undermine bilateral relations, while calling for stronger mutual support at regional and international forums, particularly within ASEAN.

Expressing confidence in the future, Mr. Chinh said he believes Vietnam-Cambodia relations will continue to grow in a more substantive and effective manner. On this occasion, he extended New Year greetings for Chol Chnam Thmay 2026 to the leadership of the Cambodian government, Minister Chay Borin, and the delegation.

Minister Chay Borin expressed his sincere gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh for the warm reception. Sharing his impressions from activities during the visit, he described them as meaningful and practical, helping the delegation gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s culture, people, and development, especially in the areas of ethnic and religious affairs.

He also spoke highly of the outcomes of his talks with Minister Dao Ngoc Dung and expressed hope that the Vietnamese Government will continue to support and promote cooperation with Cambodia across various sectors, particularly in ethnic and religious affairs.

In a respectful and friendly atmosphere, both sides agreed to continue increasing exchanges at all levels, effectively implement signed agreements, expand cooperation across multiple fields, and jointly organize activities to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Pham Thi Thanh Huyen