Prime Minister Hun Sen and Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc praised the development of relations between the two countries over the past 55 years, while Vietnam reiterated its support and wished the Kingdom success in its role as ASEAN chair in 2022.

Hun Sen and Phuc met on December 21 during the latter’s two-day visit to Cambodia for bilateral talks.

Eang Sophalleth, assistant to the prime minister, told reporters after the meeting that Phuc praised the historic and important achievements by Cambodia in recent years in its national development, political and social stability and the promotion of the Kingdom’s positive role and image internationally.

“Both sides have expressed satisfaction over the development of closer, more comprehensive and more effective relations between the two countries over these past 55 years – and more recently despite the pandemic-related difficulties,” he said.

The two sides also agreed to speed up discussions on mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccines and vaccination certifications to facilitate the travel of people and trade between the two countries.

They also agreed to further boost cooperation in the fields of defence, health, education and justice to increase the interconnectedness of the two countries and its peoples, as well as to enhance international and regional cooperation.

Hun Sen thanked Phuc for supporting Cambodia when it organised and hosted the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting, and Phuc stated that Vietnam will continue to support Cambodia to help make the ASEAN Summit in 2022 equally successful.

The two leaders also presided over the signing of seven agreements, including the 2022 Cooperation Plans between the Ministry of Interior and Vietnam’s Ministry of Police, and between the national defence ministries of both nations.

Other topics addressed in the signed agreements included matters related to the Cambodia-Vietnam border commission, cooperation in the field of education through 2025, negotiations on a free trade agreement and an action plan for both nations’ justice ministries.

The Voice of Vietnam radio station quoted Cambodian ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth as saying that the current visit of the Vietnamese president to Cambodia is a welcome expression of solidarity and mutual support and a sign that Vietnam will lend its support to Cambodia as it hosts the 2022 ASEAN Summit and attempts to tackle ASEAN’s many difficult challenges.

Cambodia and Vietnam established diplomatic ties in 1967, but relations were cut off in 1970 following the US-backed Lon Nol’s coup against the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

Relations continued to sour until 1979, after the overthrow of the Khmer Rouge regime.

Ro Vannak, co-founder of the Cambodian Institute for Democracy, said Vietnam sees Cambodia as important strategically due to its location. Vietnam, he added, will always view Cambodia as being of material interest to its national security at minimum and also sees potential for the development of trade and economic activity.

“Vietnam attaches great importance to Cambodia’s position in maintaining political order, political stability and economic development. Vietnam’s interests in Cambodia are the same as Cambodia’s interests in Vietnam: The stability provided by mutual security assurances and economic growth through trade,” he said.