BEIJING: While attending the Third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing this week, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong to discuss building the partnership between their countries and expediting negotiations to complete the Phnom Pen-Bavet-Ho Chi Minh Expressway.

During the meeting on October 18, the Vietnamese president congratulated Prime Minister Hun Manet on his ascent to power and sent greetings to the King, Queen Mother, and former Prime Minister Hun Sen. He expressed confidence in the new generation of Cambodian politicians to implement all policies of common interest and maintain close ties with Vietnam.

Prime Minister Hun Manet recalled meeting with the President of Vietnam four years ago when he was a military general, which was an opportunity for discussions to strengthen and expand cooperation between the two countries. He noted the development of relations between Cambodia and Vietnam, especially the gradual increase of trade and tourism and expanded cooperation in defense and human resource training.

The PM also requested the Vietnamese President to expedite negotiations on the Phnom Penh-Bavet -Ho Chi Minh Expressway, which will facilitate even more trade and tourism.

The two leaders agreed to improve the progress of bilateral cooperation in all fields, especially defense, security, trade, investment, education, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. The Vietnamese President also proposed to increase senior leader visits between the two countries and invited Cambodia’s King, along with former Prime Minister Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet to visit Vietnam in the near future.