PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and Vietnam are committed to further deepening the relationship between the two countries and the two main political parties, especially in the fields of defense, investment, and trade.

Politburo Member and Permanent Member of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vo Van Thuong, expressed Vietnam’s commitment to Cambodia during a courtesy visit with Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday morning, 18 October.

The Prime Minister’s Assistant and Secretary of State for the Ministry of Environment, Eang Sophalleth, told reporters after the meeting that Vo Van Thuong's visit to Cambodia and meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen has the purpose of expanding and strengthening relations between the two parties and countries.

He said the Vietnamese side has asked the Royal Government for guidelines on how to promote the further exchange of visits between the two party leaders of Vietnam and Cambodia. This is also to promote the relationship between the provinces and capitals of both countries, and to promote cooperation in the fields of defense, security, investment, trade, and cooperation in the regional and global framework.

In response, Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his support for the requests made by the Vietnamese side. The Prime Minister’s Assistant, Eang Sophalleth, quoted Prime Minister Hun Sen as saying, the “Priority work is to promote good cooperation between the provinces and border provinces, especially regarding security, the facilitation of the flow of goods, facilitation of trade and prevention of illegal activities such as trafficking, drug smuggling, and human trafficking."