Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in Phnom Penh on February 25, during his ongoing state-level visit to Cambodia.

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong (L) and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni 

The Cambodian King welcomed the Vietnamese leader and described the trip as a significant historical event as the two countries just celebrated the 40th anniversary of the victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime.

It is also the first foreign visit of the Vietnamese Party and State leader in his new position, which illustrates the special sentiment and solidarity of Vietnam and Cambodia, the King said.

He expressed his belief that the visit will open up a new period of development for the two countries’ solidarity, traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation.

The Cambodian monarch thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their valuable support for Cambodia during their national liberation and their getting rid of genocide, as well as as more recently their national reconstruction and development.

He affirmed that Vietnamese people are great, reliable friends of Cambodians and that the Cambodian people will be good neighbours to Vietnam, standing side by side with the Vietnamese people.

The King pledged to continue doing his utmost to nurture and promote the close-knit relations between Vietnam and Cambodia.

He expressed his pleasure and admiration at the remarkable achievements that Vietnam has gained in the cause of reform, considering this a great source of encouragement for Cambodia in the cause of national building and development.

He was confident that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people will go on to gain further accomplishments towards realising the target of building a prosperous population; a strong country; and an equitable, democratic, and civilised society.

Appreciating the warm reception he has received, the Party and State leader said he is happy to visit Cambodia and meet King Norodom Sihamoni again, as well as witness the significant achievements of the Cambodian people over the past few years, particularly the successful organisation of the election of the sixth National Assembly and the establishment of a new parliament and government.

He expressed his belief that under the leadership of the King and the Cambodian Royal Government, local people will continue building their country toward harmony, independence, neutrality, democracy, social growth, and friendship with all nations – particularly its neighbours.

Reiterating the tradition of mutual support and solidarity shared between the two peoples, the leader expressed his gratitude for Cambodia’s assistance to Vietnam during its past struggle for national independence and reunification.

Reviewing the growth of bilateral relations over the past more than five decades, the two leaders spoke with delight on the important and comprehensive outcomes resulting from the two nations’ relations of neigbourliness, friendship and special solidarity.

According to them, the bilateral political relations have been continuously fortified via regular visits made by Vietnamese and Cambodian high-ranking leaders to their respective countries, while economic cooperation has also been thriving, bringing practical benefits to their people. Defence-security and foreign diplomacy affiliations have followed suit, and are now important pillars of bilateral collaboration.

The two countries have always supported each other and worked together at international forums, actively contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and in the world, they noted.

They said that the outcomes of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the recent past, sourced from the long-lasting close neighbourliness, have become an invaluable treasure to both nations, as well as a firm foundation and strong driving force to put Vietnam-Cambodia ties into a new stage of development.

They affirmed that protecting, preserving and developing the valuable relationship is the responsibility of both countries and peoples, especially the younger generations.

The two leaders also affirmed to spare no efforts in fostering the Vietnam-Cambodia traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation so as to hand over the relationship to future generations.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese leader thanked the Government, National Assembly and Senate of Cambodia for their attention and facilitation of the Vietnamese community in the country, while asking the Cambodian King to continue directing the creation of more favourable conditions for them, especially the legal status of Vietnamese-Cambodians.

He presented 100 sets of computers to the King as gifts to Cambodia’s educational establishments.

Trong wished the King good health and a long life, while hoping that the King would continue to make greater contributions to the traditional friendship of the two peoples. He invited the King and the Queen Mother to make a visit or leisure tour to Vietnam. King Norodom Sihamoni thanked and accepted the invitation with pleasure.

The same day, Trong and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation laid flowers at the Norodom Sihanouk Monument, as well as visiting Queen Mother Nordom Monineath Sihanouk.

Later the day, King Norodom Sihamoni hosted a banquet at the Royal Palace in honour of Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and the delegation. –VNA