Minister, please tell us the significance of the State visit to Laos and Cambodia by President To Lam ?
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son : At the invitation of General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Thongloun Sisoulith and King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni, President To Lam and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation paid a State visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of Cambodia from July 11-13, 2024.
This is the first foreign visit of President To Lam in his new position. The results achieved during the visit are of great significance to the relationship between Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia, two close neighboring countries with a long-standing traditional, friendly and close relationship with Vietnam. The visit contributes to strengthening the traditional and effective connection and cooperation between the three countries of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
The visit was successful in all aspects, marking a new milestone in the implementation of the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress, while affirming the determination of the Party, State and People of Vietnam in constantly consolidating and developing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos and the good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability between Vietnam and Cambodia. The visit also contributed to strengthening the close personal relationship between President To Lam and senior leaders of Laos and Cambodia.
The visit is also the result of implementing high-level agreements, especially the results of the High-level meeting between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP). The comprehensive results of the visit will mark a new stage of development, closer, more effective and united between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, as well as among the three countries.
Could you please tell us the highlights of the visit ?
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son : In less than 3 days of visiting Laos and Cambodia, President To Lam had a busy program of 32 activities including talks, meetings, contacts, and meetings with all senior leaders of the two countries, visits to economic establishments, and meetings with students and overseas Vietnamese communities in the two countries. On this occasion, leaders of departments, ministries, and branches also had meetings with partners of Laos and Cambodia to discuss specific cooperation contents.
Laos and Cambodia welcomed the President and his delegation with great care and respect, at the highest level reserved for visiting foreign heads of state, with very special gestures and the welcome of thousands of Lao and Cambodian people.
In Laos, the two sides continued to affirm their high determination to continuously develop the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in a deeper, more substantial and more effective manner.
The two sides highly agreed on measures to continue effectively implementing high-level agreements between the two Parties and States, contributing to creating new momentum and further promoting relations between the two countries in the coming time; in which, continuing to pay attention and focus on the fields of defense-security, economy-trade-investment, education-training, culture and people-to-people exchange.
On that basis, the two sides agreed to coordinate to effectively implement the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Strategy Agreement for the 2021-2030 period and the Vietnam-Laos Bilateral Cooperation Agreement for the 2021-2025 period; at the same time, continue to make joint efforts to thoroughly resolve difficulties to effectively implement a number of important cooperation projects between the two countries.
To preserve and promote the precious tradition and the unique special relationship between the two countries, the Leaders agreed that both sides need to further promote propaganda and education among the people of the two countries, especially the young generation; at the same time, they agreed to promote local cooperation, especially between border provinces.
Regarding regional and international cooperation, the two sides pledged to continue to closely coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums, especially within the framework of ASEAN, the United Nations and the Mekong sub-region. Lao leaders highly appreciated Vietnam's support in preparing and organizing conferences during the ASEAN Chairmanship Year.
President To Lam affirmed that Vietnam will continue to actively coordinate and support Laos in successfully assuming its international responsibilities in 2024, including the role of ASEAN Chair and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly 2024 (AIPA 2024).
In Cambodia, the two sides agreed to promote and strengthen solidarity, trust and mutual understanding, bringing bilateral cooperation to an increasingly deeper, more substantial and effective level. The two sides especially emphasized the spirit of solidarity, closeness and friendship and the need to continue to educate the younger generation about the value and history of the bilateral relationship. During the talks and meetings, the Cambodian leaders emphasized that the Cambodian people always remember Vietnam's assistance and sacrifice in helping Cambodia escape the Pol Pot genocide and revive Cambodia.
The two sides agreed to further promote economic-trade-investment cooperation, national defense-security, border cooperation, labor resources, and people-to-people exchange. The two sides agreed to actively support each other in building an independent and self-reliant economy, while integrating deeply and effectively into the international community. In human resource development cooperation, the two sides will focus on attracting students from both countries to study in each country in groups of majors that are suitable to the needs of the two countries and new development trends such as digital transformation, application of science and technology, etc.
The two sides welcomed the close coordination between relevant agencies of the two countries to build a peaceful, friendly, stable, cooperative and developed land border, promote cooperation between border provinces, develop the border economy, and at the same time create favorable conditions for people to travel, do business, and transport goods, further promoting trade turnover in the coming time.
Regarding the Vietnamese community in Cambodia, senior Cambodian leaders have affirmed to continue to pay attention and create more favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live and work stably and legally in Cambodia.
Within the framework of regional and international cooperation, the two sides agreed to promote cooperation in the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle, support Laos in fulfilling its role as Chair of ASEAN and AIPA 2024; the Greater Mekong Subregion; and cooperate in managing and sustainably using Mekong River water resources for the benefit of communities in the basin and in all three countries.
In summary, the visit achieved important and comprehensive results in all fields, affirming the high determination of the senior leaders of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to further develop the great Vietnam-Laos relationship and the close-knit Vietnam-Cambodia relationship for the practical benefits of the people of each country and the three countries.
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