T HE visit of Vietnamese President Le Duc Anh (above) was marked by Cambodian

leaders as a watershed event as the two neighbors proceed to smooth out their

relationship.

"This is a historical visit. The policy of the Royal

Government is to strengthen and expand good ties with its neighbors, including

Vietnam," First Premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh told President Anh in a meeting

at Chamkar Mon palace on Aug 8.

Vietnamese troops occupied Cambodia for

ten years after toppling the Khmer Rouge regime in 1979. Although the new

government was formed in Cambodia after the 1993 general election, relationships

between the two nations have remained tense, especially on issues of border

demarcation and Vietnamese nationals in Cambodia.

The border issue would

be discussed in the future, Foreign Minister Ung Huot said, adding that the

issue of Vietnamese refugees in Chrey Thom would be discussed in a meeting of

the countries' joint commission, which would be held in Phnom Penh in October.

"We had already two meetings and they proceeded well. Everything is

going very fine," Huot told reporters on Aug 8.

King Norodom Sihanouk

granted an audience to President Anh in the Royal Palace on Aug 8.

Huot

said the meeting proceeded in "the atmosphere of cooperation and friendship

between our two people."