The signing ceremony was witnessed by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and his visiting Vietnamese counterpart H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, following their official talks at the Peace Palace, Phnom Penh this morning.

Those four documents include the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on joint study on the construction of Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway and Ho Chi Minh-Moc Bai expressway, the MoU on the construction project of a centre for voluntary and community-based treatment service for drug addicts in Preah Sihanouk province, the MoU on bilateral cooperation on fisheries sector, and the MoU on the construction of Phnom Penh-Hanoi Friendship Boulevard.

The high-level Vietnamese delegation led by H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse arrived in Phnom Penh yesterday afternoon for a three-day official visit in Cambodia. After arrival, the delegation was received in a royal audience by His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.

This afternoon, the Vietnamese premier paid separate courtesy calls on Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum, President of the Senate, Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly, and His Holiness Samdech Preah Akka Moha Sangharajadhipati Tep Vong, Great Supreme Patriarch of Mohanikaya of Cambodia.

This evening, Samdech Techo Hun Sen and his spouse will host a dinner reception in honour of H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse at the Peace Palace.

This visit marks the celebration of the Friendship Year 2017 and the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Cambodia and Vietnam and contributes to further elevating and strengthening the excellent bonds of traditional friendship, good neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

By Khan Sophirom

According to H.E. Kao Kim Hourn, Delegate Minister Attached to the Prime Minister, H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his congratulations to Cambodia on her progress in all sectors, as well as the country’s sustainable economic growth, social stability, peace and so on under the wise leadership of Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

For his part, the Cambodian premier lauded Vietnam’s achievements and called on his Vietnamese counterpart to further help promoting the cross-border trade so as to boost the bilateral trade exchange to reach US$5 billion in the future, up from US$2.92 billion last year.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen also encouraged the Vietnamese investors and tourists to continue visiting and doing business in Cambodia and expressed thanks to Vietnam for her support to Cambodia in the past and at the present time.

On the border affairs, both leaders agreed to authorise the border committees of the two countries to continue working together to solve the remaining issues, and pledged to build more infrastructure at the common border for the benefits of the two peoples.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen underlined that the Royal Government of Cambodia has been treating the documented Vietnamese people in Cambodia as other nationals without discrimination. He also agreed with H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s request to elaborate Khmer-Vietnamese, Vietnamese-Khmer dictionaries.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese premier announced to provide US$3 million to Cambodia for the construction of a drug addiction correctional centre in Preah Sihanouk province and US$ 2 million for the construction of a market in Thbong Khmum province.

By Khan Sophirom

During the courtesy visit, both leaders discussed the border demarcation issue and development along the common border and other fields of cooperation between the two countries.

According to H.E. Keo Piseth, Director of Cabinet of Samdech Heng Samrin, the two sides expressed their commitment to speed up the planting of the remaining border markers in order to turn the border area into an area of peace and development.

Cambodia and Vietnam share the common border of 1,270 kilometres long and about 84 percent of border marker planting work has been achieved so far.

Besides, Samdech Heng Samrin and H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc exchanged views on the cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam in the fields of economy, trade, and so on as well as the celebration of the Friendship Year 2017 and the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

By Khan Sophirom

AKP, April 26, 2017 –Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid yesterday afternoon at the Senate Palace, Phnom Penh a courtesy call on Cambodian Senate President Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum.

On the occasion, both sides expressed their satisfaction with the good ties of friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam. They were committed to further enhance the bonds for the interests of the two peoples and nations.

Samdech Say Chhum welcomed all activities in celebration of the Friendship Year 2017 and the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between both countries. He also voiced his support to the cooperation between the Cambodian and Vietnamese governments in maintaining peace, stability and development in the two countries as well as in the region and the world.

For his part, H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc briefed Samdech Heng Samrin on the outcome of his official talks with Cambodian Premier Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen and expressed his hope that the Cambodian Senate will contribute more actively to promoting the friendship and cooperation between both nations, especially among the youth.

H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc also took this opportunity to invite Samdech Say Chhum to pay an official visit to Vietnam.

The meeting also touched on the border marker planting work which has so far achieved some 84 percent and the trade and economic cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

By Khan Sophirom

Photo: Khem Sovannara

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Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and his spouse arrive here this afternoon for a three-day official visit in Cambodia, at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

Photo: Khem Sovannara

PHOTO: SPM Page, KOK KY

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Cambodia’s Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen and his Vietnamese counterpart H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc cut red ribbon to inaugurate the 427.44-metre-long Chrey Thom-Long Binh, a cross border bridge connecting Chrey Thom (Kandal province, Cambodia) and Long Binh (An Giang province, Vietnam), in a ceremony organised at Chrey Thom village, Sampov Loun commune of Koh Thom district, this morning.

CNV: 24/04/2017

In addition to the prepared text, speaking to the Inauguration the Cambodian-Vietnamese Friendship Bridge Jrey Thom-Long Binh, Samdech Techo Hun Sen made the following adlib comments on transforming former battlefields into development areas:

Today, I have a great pleasure to attend with H.E Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, in this Inauguration of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Chrey Thom/Long Binh Bridge, and the Connecting Road of the two countries, Cambodia-Vietnam” in Sampov Poun Commune, Koh Thom District, Kandal Province, the Kingdom of Cambodia, which is next to Long Binh District, Ang Yang Province, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Taking this opportunity, on behalf of the Royal Government and people of Cambodia, I would like to express my profound thanks to the Government and people of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that rescued Cambodian people and country from Pol Pot Genocidal Regime, and highly evaluate the fraternity by contributing the resource in subsequent rehabilitation and development of Cambodian socio-economy. At the same time, Cambodia would like to congratulate the development of Vietnam Society, which will further boost the economic growth and development of neighboring country like Cambodia through this progress.
In fact, this inauguration is also perceived as the anniversary of diplomatic relation between Cambodia-Vietnam, which has been 50 years (1967-2017) by this 2017. Through this, we can say that this bridge and the connecting road is a gift of this 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relation between Cambodia-Vietnam. However, this achievement is not only the testimony of the great sympathy of the Government of Vietnam in strengthening and expanding the cooperation and solidarity between the two neighboring countries , but also strengthening the peace, stability, and order for the two nations and all countries in ASEAN as well as Mekong Sub-region. Moreover, this bridge and connecting road also strengthen and expand economic cooperation by opening the cross-border gateway, which will enhance the connectivity, promote the trade and tourism sector, and livelihood of people of the two countries.
Cambodia has accomplished abundance of achievements both in politics, security, social orders, and socio-economic development, which are pre-conditions for in-depth transitions in all aspects of socio-economy. Obviously, today we have Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Chrey Thom/Long Binh Bridge and Connecting Road between both countries, which is a very potential passage linking to markets and supporting the pace of Cambodian economic growth. With the recent additional accomplishment, Cambodia hopes to achieve an ambitious promotion of trade between both Cambodia and Vietnam to increase up to USD​5000 Million in the upcoming years that will contribute to maintaining the economic growth rate of around 7% in a year which is its growth objective after Cambodia has achieved an average growth of 7.7% in a year during two decades and that has liberated millions of Cambodian people from the poverty trap. Therefore, in order to continue Cambodian socio-economic development in a much faster pace with favorable regional and global integration, preservation of security, political stability, macroeconomic stability and sustainable growth is an important work.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to compliment related companies that have accomplished this achievement which includes SANCO One Corporation (Vietnam), Sok Sokha Company (Cambodia) (CIENCO1-SOK SOKHA) and Transport Engineering Design Joint Stock Inc. South of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that has studied technical engineering design, as well as domestic company KCEC who successfully managed and supervised technical construction as planned. I would like to express my compliment and high evaluation on management and officials of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, local authorities as well as all related ministries and institutions who have made their utmost efforts to guarantee the successful achievement of strategic plan for the construction of various roads and bridges infrastructure throughout the country particularly this Chrey Thom/Long Binh Bridge and Connecting Road.

[Start of Comments]

Please allow me to speak a little bit in addition to my speech. I have set out this policy to transform former battlefields into marketplaces, and borders with neighboring countries to areas of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development. Cambodia shares over one thousand kilometers of border with Vietnam, about one thousand kilometers with Thailand and with Laos too. We want a border of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development to guarantee interest for people of both sides. We have realized already the objective of transforming former battlefields into marketplaces. We are now working on transforming border areas with neighboring countries into areas of development, cooperation, friendship, and as an important part in trade relations between our neighboring countries.

Since the translation has not reached to the level that I wanted to say, maybe I shall have to speak a bit in Vietnamese. When I speak in Vietnamese, some would say that I am a puppet (of Vietnam). However, when I speak in French or English, it seems no one has said I was a puppet of either of them. I am now speaking a few words in Vietnamese to stress on the meaning I wish to deliver to the Prime Minister and other leaders of Vietnam, and their people here.

Since it is not said anywhere in my prepared speech, I wish to reiterate the point I wanted to stress that we have transformed all former battlefields into market places and areas of development already. We are now working to make efforts with neighboring countries to transform borders (with neighboring countries) into areas of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development. I have asked people on both sides of the border, which one do they prefer, exchange of goods, tourism, exchange of visits, or fighting. I think that people on border sites all want peace and development, not war. I hope that the bridge we are putting into official use today is a part of connectivity efforts between our two countries that are good neighbors with tradition of friendship and cooperation in every field.

[End of Comments]

Finally, with an announcement of Inauguration of the “Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Chrey Thom/Long Binh Bridge and the Connecting Road of the two countries, Cambodia-Vietnam” at the moment, I would like to wish all venerable monks, and H.E. Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, national and international distinguished guests, and compatriots, the four gems of Buddhist blessing: Longevity, Nobility, Healthiness and Strength./.