A total of five documents were signed by Vietnam and Cambodia, signalling their commitment to “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, [and] comprehensive cooperation”.

This was confirmed in a joint statement issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Vietnam at the conclusion of Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong’s official state visit to the Kingdom.

During Phu Trong’s visit, the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee secretary-general met with King Norodom Sihanmoni and Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk on Monday.

In addition, on Tuesday he met with Senate President Say Chhum and National Assembly President Heng Samrin, before finally meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen in a ceremony marking the signing of the cooperation agreements.

The joint statement said Phu Trong and Hun Sen witnessed the signing of the five documents.

These were an addendum on waterway transportation, a protocol on road transportation, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the construction of new administrative buildings for the Secretariat General of the National Assembly of Cambodia, an arrangement on bilateral trade enhancement, and an MoU on tourism cooperation.

“The leaders of the two countries briefed each other on their countries’ current developments and had in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral cooperation and regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the statement read.

“Good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-lasting stability” were the basis of the two countries’ relationship and were the foundation for sustainable development, peace, stability and cooperation in the region, it said.

Both sides also agreed to strengthen and deepen their political relations, increase the effectiveness of the bilateral cooperation mechanisms, expand cooperation and mutual support among all national and local institutions, and improve the efficiency of the economic, cultural, educational, medical, scientific and technological cooperation.

Prime Minister Hun Sen and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong shake hands after the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s arrival at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on Tuesday. Trong began his two-day official state visit to the Kingdom on Monday. TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP

“The two sides stressed the importance and agreed to strengthen defence and security cooperation on the principle of not allowing any political or military force to use the territory of one country to harm the national security of the other and to settle emerging issues between the two countries by peaceful means,” it read.

In their meeting, Hun Sen also reportedly extended his congratulations to Phu Trong for his country hosting the second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, scheduled to take place in Hanoi on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in the meeting between Phu Trong and Say Chhum, the Senate president called for a resolution to border disputes between Vietnam and the Kingdom.

A local media outlet quoted Say Chhum as saying that resolving border disputes was a case of the “sooner the better”.

The spokesman for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party Sok Eysan also heralded the countries’ close ties.

“The relations between Cambodia and Vietnam are like a lip and teeth, and it cannot be broken. Not like the opposition who just say things to cause instability and racial discrimination."

“It is good to make ties, friendship, solidarity and mutual cooperation towards prosperity,” he said.