Visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and his Cambodia counterpart Hun Sen yesterday witnessed the signing of four agreements to further promote bilateral cooperation between the two nations, state media reported.
The four documents include an agreement on Vietnam's assistance to produce border pointers for Cambodia, a pact on border health quarantine; a cooperative plan on information and a memorandum of understanding on the initial implementation of the agreement for the facilitation of cross-border transport of goods and people at the Bavet-Moc Bai border crossing point.
The four newly-signed pacts would benefit businesses and travelers and further expand bilateral economic linkages, the two government leaders agreed after the signing.
During their talk earlier, Khai and Hun Sen were unanimous in their decision to further deepen cooperation in the fields of electric supply, agriculture, health, culture, education and especially collaboration along the borderline in the coming time.
They also agreed to speed up trade activities between the two countries targeting two-way trade of US$1 billion this year from more than US$600 million in 2005.
Besides, the visitor and the host discussed measures to ensure favorable conditions for their citizens working in each other territory.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai will conclude his two-day visit to the neighboring country today after meeting with some other top leaders namely Cambodia Senate President Chea Sim, acting Chairman of the National Assembly Heng Samrin and King Norodom Sihamoni.
This trip, Khai led a large and powerful entourage including Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien, Director of Governmental Office Minister Doan Manh Giao, Health Minister Tran Thi Trung Chien, Culture – Information Minister Pham Quang Nghi, Transport Minister Dao Dinh Binh, Assistant to Prime Minister Kieu Dinh Thu, Deputy Defense Minister Phan Trung Kien, Deputy Police Minister Nguyen Van Huong, Deputy Planning and Investment Minister Tran Dinh Khien, Deputy Trade Minister Phan The Rue, Deputy Industry Minister Bui Xuan Khu, Ho Chi Minh City Governor Le Thanh Hai, Governors of Gia Lai, Binh Phuoc, An Giang, Dong Thap provinces, Head of Vietnam Commercial and Industrial Chamber Vu Tien Loc and businesspeople.
Last year, Vietnam and Cambodia reached a solid agreement pledging to complete the demarcation of there common border in late 2008. The two countries share 1,228 km of borderline.
According to foreign news wires, before Khai’s tour, the Cambodia Government blocked a planned protest of about 5,000 Cambodians who demand greater freedom and human rights for ethnic Khmers living in southern Vietnam. In the past, the Vietnamese Government, however, often raised its voice that Vietnam always offers equal conditions to all majority King and ethnic minority people, explaining that minor oppositions are often the result of a lack of information about government policies.
The People, VNA
Vietnamese
