H.E Vann Phal, Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam has highlighted remarkable developments between Vietnam and Cambodia in an interview with Vietnam Business Forum.
What are the highlights of the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship?
Vietnam and Cambodia have laid firm foundations for long-term friendly relations and traditional solidarity. In struggling for national independence, the two fought side by side against common enemies and gained many great victories. The peoples of both countries keep in mind wartime history and continue to help each other in all situations, reinforcing and expanding the traditional solidarity and preserving this profound friendship for future generations. Regarding bilateral relations between Vietnam and Cambodia as well as our multi-faceted cooperation, both countries’ high ranking leaders have made efforts to maintain and protect our achievements. This is an important foundation for the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship.
We are proud and appreciative of our relationship. It is invaluable for the unity, traditional friendship and solidarity of the both peoples. Based on this relationship, Cambodian people live in peace and make progress in all fields. Especially, nothing can break the bilateral diplomatic relations between our two countries.
We show our deep gratitude to the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for the whole-hearted assistance given to the Cambodian people in the past struggle for national liberation from genocide, as well as in the present national construction and development.
What is the process of border demarcation?
Both countries’ border demarcation and marker planting are seeing good progress. The Joint Committee for Border Demarcation and Marker Planting has discussed measures to speed up the progress of land border demarcation and market planting. 140 out of 375 markers are now completed.
Under the plan of both Governments, we expect to complete another 140 markers in 2010. For the rest of markers, both sides will finalize the installation of landmarks this year to make it a border of peace, friendship, co-operation and stable development.
2009 is a memorable year for Vietnam and Cambodia, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association (VCFA), could you briefly describe the role and contributions of VCFA to the development of the bilateral relationship?
After 1979, Vietnam and Cambodia decided to establish VCFA. VCFA has so far helped both peoples understand mutual development, in political, economic and cultural fields. VCFA is an important bridge linking Vietnam and Cambodia to promote trade and investment.
We highly appreciate the establishment of VCFA. On the 30th anniversary of the establishment of VCFA, November 2009, Mrs Men Saman, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister cum President of VCFA attended the ceremony. In early 2010, President Nguyen Minh Triet attended the closing ceremony.
The attention of both countries’ leaders and activities of VCFA shows that we have a common expectation of expansion and reinforcement of friendship, unity and bilateral co-operation. Vietnam and Cambodia have created an unshakeable friendship.
What is the trade cooperation potential in 2010?
I am glad to see good cooperation of trade exchange between Vietnam and Cambodia. The trade exchange increases on average 30 % per year. In 2007, it reached US$ one billion and US$1.7billion in 2008. In 2009, the unofficial figure shows that it is US$ two billion. In addition, the two Governments agreed to increase trade turnover to US$ 2 billion by 2010.
Duy Khang
Vietnamese
