Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn is set to pay an official visit to Vietnam this coming week to co-chair a key joint meeting, and discuss how best to strengthen relations and encourage productive cooperation, according to a foreign ministry statement on March 17.
Sokhonn “is paying an official visit to [Vietnam], and co-chairing the 20th Meeting of the Cambodia-Vietnam Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation [20th JC] on 20-22 March 2023”, the statement said.
“Both foreign ministers will hold a bilateral dialogue to explore ways and means to further deepen the existing excellent relationship and foster the thriving cooperation ranging from politics, security, economy, trade and investment to agriculture, tourism, connectivity, health, culture and education.
“Collaboration within the ASEAN framework, and pressing regional and international issues of common interest and concern will also be deliberated.
“Co-chaired by the two foreign ministers, the 20th JC will take stock of the progress achieved pursuant to the Agreed Minutes of the past meeting, and chart a new course of concrete actions to strengthen and broaden wide-ranging areas of bilateral cooperation mutually beneficial to the two countries and peoples,” it said.
It added that Sokhonn is also set to pay separate courtesy calls on Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Royal Academy of Cambodia secretary-general Yang Peou commented that Sokhonn’s visit would be “really valuable” for strengthening political, trade, investment and economic ties, as well as the resolution of security issues.
The foreign ministry stated added: “Both the official visit and the 20th JC will give a new impetus to the robust multi-faceted relations, anchored with deep-rooted political trust, and further cement the traditional friendship, good neighbourliness, and long-lasting stability between the two countries.”
