Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan holds talks with Speaker of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin, Ha Noi, May 28, 2019Speaker of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin affirmed the Cambodian legislature’s strong support for the two governments’ efforts to raise the bilateral trade to US$5 billion by 2020.
Samdech Heng Samrinmade that statement at his talks withChairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Nganon May 28 on the occasion of his official visit to Viet Nam from May 28-30.
At the talks, both leaders agreed on the need to step up delegation and people-to-people exchanges and maintain coordination in carrying out signed agreements. They also highlighted the importance of regularly educating the two countries’ people, especially younger generations, on the solidarity, friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between VietNam and Cambodia.
The leaders underlinedthebilateral trade reachingUS$4.7 billion last year, a 23.7%rise year-on-year.
Heng Samrinsuggestedintensifyingpeople-to-people exchanges and cooperation indefense, security, counterterrorism,and information sharing; and orientatingborder areas towards the building of a peaceful, friendship, and developing border line.
He took the occasion to thank the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for supporting Cambodiaover the recent years.
For her side,Ngan asked the Cambodian side to createfavorable conditionsfor the search for and repatriation of remains of volunteer Vietnamese soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Cambodia, as well as the construction, restoration, and repair of VietNam-Cambodia friendship monuments in the country.
The leaders expressed their delight at the achievements gained by VietNam and Cambodia in border demarcation and border marker planting as 84% of the work has been completed, askingboth sidestocontinue discussions to seek out mutually fair and suitable measures acceptable to both sides.
Regarding the resettlement of Vietnamese people inthe Tonle Sap Lake, Ngan requiredthe Cambodian side to pay attention to ensuring the lives, interests, and assets of relocated people, affirmingthat VietNam will join hands with Cambodia to provide support for them to soonstabilizetheir lives.
The NA Chairwoman also stressed that VietNam hopes to continue cooperatingwith Cambodia in managing and using the Mekong River water resources sustainably, exploiting hydropower potential of the Mekong River appropriately and effectively, and ensuring water resource and environmental safety and security.
For regional cooperation, Ngan suggested both nations maintain close coordination in boosting cooperation initiatives suitable for their interests and those of the entire region.
She voiced her hope to receive Cambodia’s support and coordination to help VietNamfulfillits role as ASEAN Chair and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Chair in 2020, and maintain the ASEAN’s intra-bloc solidarity and central role.
VietNam is willing to help Cambodiaorganizethe Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) Meeting next year, she asserted.
For parliamentary collaboration, she asked both legislative bodies to facilitate the organization of meetings of young parliamentarians and female parliamentarians this year.
The two leaders affirmed to continue supporting each other in hosting international parliamentary meetings such as the AIPA, ASEP, Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU).
Heng Samrin also took the occasion to invite his Vietnamese counterpart to pay an official visit to Cambodia at an appropriate time. Thelatter accepted the invitation.
After the talks, the leaders signed a cooperation agreement between the two legislatures and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Vietnamese NA Office and the Cambodian NA Secretariat.