PHNOM PENH: On the afternoon of August 5, President of the Cambodian People’s Party and Prime Minister Hun Sen received a video call from the leader of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, congratulating him on his party’s victory in last month’s general election.

During the meeting, Secretary-General Nguyen Phu Trong praised the leadership of PM Hun Sen who guided the CPP with strong beliefs and the support of the people. He also praised Cambodia’s progress under the current prime minister and expressed his confidence in future Prime Minister Hun Manet to continue to achieve new victories.

Nguyen Phu Trong also expressed his full support for the process of building and developing Cambodia through maintaining and enhancing positive relations between the ruling parties and the people of the two countries.

PM Hun Sen expressed gratitude for the call and celebrated a year of peace, solidarity and comprehensive and lasting cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam. He returned the Vietnamese leader’s compliments, saying that the Communist Party of Vietnam has brought about steady progress in socio-economic development to promote Vietnam's prestige and increasingly important role in regional and international forums.

Both sides praised their close and fruitful partnership despite the uncertain geopolitical atmosphere brought on by Covid-19, which they said only deepened the spirit of cooperation, traditional friendship and lasting stability. The two leaders stressed the importance of solidarity and mutual assistance as important factors in national unity, territorial integrity and freedom for the people.

The leaders also discussed the importance of teaching the youth to learn from each other, share experiences and understand their history, which will contribute to the continuation of strong friendship between both countries.

PM Hun Sen finished the call by inviting Nguyen Phu Trong and other leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam to visit Cambodia in the near future. It is likely that the visit will take place under the leadership of future Prime Minister Hun Manet, who is due to take over on August 22. The Vietnamese leader extended a similar invitation to the CPP President, who will likely be visiting as President of the Cambodian Senate, rather than prime minister.