Hanoi, November 28, 2024 – The Europe Today: King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia, who is in Vietnam for an official visit from November 28 to 29 at the invitation of Vietnamese President Lương Cường, held productive talks yesterday, marking an important milestone in strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
During the meeting, President Cường welcomed King Sihamoni and expressed confidence that the visit would significantly contribute to furthering cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia. He emphasized that the deepening ties would benefit not only the two countries but also enhance regional and global peace, stability, and development.
The Vietnamese leader lauded Cambodia’s impressive progress under the leadership of King Sihamoni over the past two decades, particularly in improving living standards for the Cambodian people and elevating the country’s regional and global stature. He also conveyed his hopes for Cambodia’s continued success, with the goal of achieving upper-middle-income status by 2030 and reaching high-income status by 2050.
President Cường reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with Cambodia, noting that the leaders and people of Vietnam remain deeply grateful for the support of the Cambodian royal family, government, and people during Vietnam’s struggle for independence and in the ongoing efforts of national construction and defense.
In return, King Norodom Sihamoni expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s achievements, particularly its impressive transformation over the past four decades of Đổi Mới (Renewal). He conveyed the Cambodian leaders’ best regards to President Cường and acknowledged Vietnam’s progressive foreign policy and its numerous comprehensive strategic partnerships globally. The King expressed confidence that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, the country will continue to achieve significant accomplishments in the years ahead.
Furthermore, the Cambodian monarch expressed heartfelt gratitude for Việt Nam’s assistance during Cambodia’s past struggles, including its escape from genocide, and for the ongoing support in Cambodia’s national development process. He stressed the importance of preserving and nurturing the longstanding bilateral relations between the two nations, which he described as an invaluable asset for future generations.
King Norodom Sihamoni also met with Vietnamese Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính as part of his visit, further emphasizing the close cooperation between the two countries.
During the talks, President Cường urged King Sihamoni to work alongside Cambodia’s senior leadership to address challenges related to the citizenship of Vietnamese descent individuals in Cambodia. He also requested that the Cambodian government create favorable conditions for Vietnamese nationals and people of Vietnamese descent to live, work, and integrate legally into Cambodian society, serving as bridges of friendship between the two nations.
This visit is seen as an important step in reinforcing the traditional bonds of friendship and cooperation that have long existed between Vietnam and Cambodia.
