Cambodia and Vietnam Celebrate 55 Years of Diplomatic Relations
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh makes a state visit to Cambodia to attend the ASEAN and East Asia Summits
UPDATE: As Phnom Penh becomes the centre of the known universe for the next week of ASEAN and EAS summits it is worthwhile to have a look at Cambodia’s critical relationship with Vietnam. In the US mid-terms the Democrats have narrowly lost the House of Representatives and may also lose the Senate. Thus, President Biden arrives in Phnom Penh with less influence and will be greeted with a collective sigh of relief that his ASEAN, East Asia and Ukraine policies might also wither. Meanwhile, your intrepid editor is gathering more ASEAN articles to provide the Long Mekong Daily’s growing subscriber list a critical analysis of super summit November.
Relations between Cambodia and Vietnam have been constantly promoted and strengthened by the leaders and peoples of both countries under the motto of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable, long-term cooperation” that was agreed upon in 2005, thus bringing the importance of mutual benefits to the two peoples.
The two countries maintain regular high-level visits and exchanges at all levels, strengthening mutual trust and promoting cooperation mechanisms. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will make a state visit to Cambodia from Wednesday to Thursday and attend the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summit from November 11 to 13 at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Pham’s visit takes place in the context of the world and regional situation with many fluctuations, especially the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, geopolitical conflicts and competition of the major powers in the world, the Russia-Ukraine War and the Crisis in Myanmar.
Faced with these challenges, Cambodia and Vietnam have continued to strengthen their neighbourly relations, friendship, and mutual assistance with the spirit of camaraderie and suffering, maintaining socio-political stability, and continuing to promote social and economic development.
Regarding the relations between the two countries, this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Vietnam (1967-2022) and the “Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Year”. This year also witnessed many important events in the foreign policy between the two countries.
Notable anong them are the visits of Cambodian senior leaders to Vietnam and vice versa, such as: the meeting of Mr Hun Sen and Pham in Tbong Khmum province (bordering with Binh Phuoc province, Vietnam) in June for commemorating the 45th anniversary of Mr Hun Sen’s road to overthrowing the genocidal regime of Pol Pot and the official visit of Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong to Cambodia from October 17 to 19.
In addition, leaders of provinces and cities of the two countries, especially leaders of border provinces, visit each other. Through these visits, the leaders of the two countries expressed their delight at the results achieved in the past by the two countries, and continued to affirm their mutual support on both bilateral and multilateral levels.
In terms of politics: the two countries always support each other in maintaining political stability to promote national development.
Vietnam has always supported the leadership of Mr Hun Sen and the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) who have led the country to achieve great achievements in recent years, especially in successfully containing the Covid-19 pandemic, successfully reopening and quick economic recovery and also believe that Cambodia will successfully hold the National Assembly elections in 2023 in the process of building a peaceful, independent, democratic and prosperous Cambodia.
In terms of trade: according to statistics of Vietnam’s customs authorities, by the end of September, the trade turnover between the two countries reached $8.46 billion, up 25.4% compared to the same period last year, in which Vietnam’s exports to Cambodia reached $4.56 billion, up 28.8%, and Cambodia’s exports to Vietnam reached $3.9 billion up 5.1%.
It is expected in 2022, the trade turnover between the two countries will reach more than $10 billion and Cambodia will become one of the 12 countries with the largest trade value of Vietnam.
The export items from Vietnam to Cambodia are mainly petroleum, iron and steel, textile raw materials, fertilisers, etc. Cambodia exports mainly agricultural products to Vietnam, such as cashhew nuts, rubber, and tobacco.
The two countries are working together to promote the signing of economic agreements and cooperation between them, such as the Border Trade agreement, Trade Promotion between Cambodia and Vietnam in the period of 2023-2024, two economic connectivity agreements.
In terms of investment: by the end of September, Vietnam has 199 investment projects in Cambodia with a capital of $2.93 billion, ranking second among 79 countries and territories that Vietnam has operations. The agricultural sector has the largest projects, ranked second is the bank, followed by the manufacturing and mining industry.
Cambodia now also has 21 investment projects in Vietnam with a total capital of about $64 million. Many Vietnamese investment projects in Cambodia have contributed to creating jobs and income for Cambodian workers and promoting the development of local economies, such as: Vietnam Rubber Group–VRG, Thagrico, Metfone… Vietnam is also among the five largest foreign investors in Cambodia.
In terms of culture and society: Practically celebrating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of Cambodia-Vietnam relations, Cambodia organised the Cambodian culture week in Vietnam (September 27 to October 2), with many activities to promote the culture and art of Cambodia in Vietnam.
Vietnam has also organised many activities to celebrate the relationship between the two countries, notably the Vietnamese culture week in Cambodia from August 10-14) with the theme “Cultural heritage and human development”.
These events will help the people of the two countries understand each other better, contributing to strengthening and promoting the relationship between the two countries. The close relationship between the two brotherly neighbours has been raised to a higher level.
In terms of security and defence: The two countries pledged to continue consolidating and promoting cooperation activities in the field of security and defence, by ensuring border security between them and at the same time, search for the remains of Vietnamese soldiers who died on Cambodian soil and exchange and promote consensus on security issues in the region and the world.
Related to ASEAN Chairmanship of Cambodia 2022: Vietnam congratulates Cambodia on successfully organising Asean meetings in recent times, strongly supports Cambodia for the upcoming 40th-41st ASEAN Summit and 43rd AIPA General Assembly as well as continue contributing to the building of the ASEAN Community amd improve reputation enhancing the prestige and position of Cambodia in the world.
Cambodia strongly supports Vietnam in becoming a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the second time next year.
Experiencing the ups and downs of history, Cambodia-Vietnam relations have increasingly developed in many fields, bringing practical benefits to the people of each country. Cambodia and Vietnam relations are not traditional, but also the relationship of close brothers and comrades, who have suffered together in the cause of national liberation and reunification, as well as in the building and development of the countries..
Uch Leang is a Researcher at the Asian African and Middle East Studies Department of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, Royal Academy of Cambodia.
First published by Khmer Times