PHNOM PENH:​ The Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prak Sokhonn, co-chaired the 19th Meeting of the Cambodia-Vietnam Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, with the Vietnamese Foreign Minister, Bui Thanh Son, via videoconference on Sunday.

During the meeting, the two foreign ministers expressed their high satisfaction that Cambodia and Vietnam have maintained close relations and cooperation in every aspect and at all levels, despite the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Both sides shared the view that 2022 will be another significant milestone in the bilateral relations between Cambodia and Vietnam, as the countries will be commemorating the 55th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. They agreed to mark 2022 as the “Year of Friendship Between Cambodia and Vietnam.”

The meeting was held also to review the progress of the implementation of the Record of Discussion from the 18th JC meeting in 2020, and to further discuss and exchange views on various bilateral topics of discussion regarding politics, security, trade and investment and socio-cultural cooperation.

The two sides agreed to sign and implement a number of bilateral documents including the Memorandum of Agreement on Education Cooperation for 2021-2025, the MoU between the two countries’ respective Ministries of Agriculture, and the MoU on the Cooperation Strategy in the Transport Sector for 2018-2025.

Regarding trade, the ministers noted with satisfaction that the two-way trade volume between Cambodia and Vietnam reached nearly six billion USD in 2020, and is projected to reach eight billion in 2021. On investment cooperation, the Cambodian side proposed to establish a Cambodia-Vietnam Special Economic Zones inside Cambodian territory along the border with Vietnam.

On Tourism, the two sides agreed to closely develop the Post-Covid-19 Tourism Recovery Plan together and also explore possible joint Tourist Packages for Vaccine Passport holders. Both sides also expressed appreciation for the mutual support in financial and medical supplies for the fight against Covid-19. Regarding security and combatting crimes, the two sides agreed to step up coordination.

Both the Cambodian and Vietnamese Ministers underlined their commitment to continue supporting each other in regional and international fora, particularly within the ASEAN and the UN frameworks. The Vietnamese Minister particularly pledged to fully support Cambodia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2022.

He also accepted Minister Prak Sokhonn’s invitation to pay an official visit to Cambodia in 2022 at their mutual convenience.