VIETNAM: The President of Cambodia’s National Assembly , Khuon Sodary, left for Vietnam on the afternoon of November 30. This is her first official foreign visit after taking office in August.

Upon arriving in Hanoi, she was greeted at her hotel by Nguyen Duc Hai, Vice-President of Vietnam’s National Assembly and Chairman of the Vietnam-Cambodia National Assembly Friendship Group.

He said that the visit will contribute to the strengthening and deepening of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, both in the legislature and the executive branches. He urged Khuon Sodary to continue to build relations between the two parliaments with more exchange visits for officials, more interaction between young members of parliament and more active participation in the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Group.

Khuon Sodary supported his ideas and praised Vietnam's rapid progress under the leadership of the Party and State. The National Assembly President reminded the Vietnamese MP of the good relations between Cambodia and Vietnam established by the late King Norodom Sihanouk and President Ho Chi Minh under difficult circumstances in the 1950’s. She noted that the leaders stood shoulder to shoulder to end war, unite their countries, and gain independence. She emphasized the importance of mutual trust and understanding, which has enabled long-standing good relations and brought benefits to the peace and development of both countries.

Cambodia’s National Assembly President will be in Vietnam until December 2, when she will depart with her high-level delegation to Laos to meet with key leaders and attend the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Parliamentary Summit (CLV) from December 4-7.

According to the General Secretariat of Cambodia’s National Assembly, the visits will deepen ties among the countries in the executive and legislative branches by building relations in leadership, expert committees, and female MPs. The visit will also promote parliamentary diplomacy, trade, investment, and tourism for the benefit of all three countries.