Cambodia newspaper highlights Vietnamese top legislator’s visit

Cambodia’s largest daily newspaper Rasmei Kampuchea (Light of Cambodia) has run a front page article saying the visit to Cambodia by Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan from September 27-28 will strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The article noted this was Ngan’s first trip to Cambodia as Vietnam’s top legislator after her recent visit to Laos, showing that Vietnam prioritises the long-standing solidarity between the three countries.

Following by Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Cambodia in June 2016, the visit by the NA Chairwoman shows that Vietnam pays great attention to relations with Cambodia.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan

According to the article, the visit illustrates the close-knit ties between Vietnam and Cambodia given the two countries’ States and peoples are preparing to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (June 24, 1967).

Bilateral friendship and comprehensive cooperation have been maintained and reinforced over the years by the implementation of agreements reached between senior officials of the two countries.

The nations organized the 14th session of the Joint Commission for Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation in 2015, during which 28 bilateral agreements were reached, the article noted.

The Vietnamese legislature later approved an aid package of VND 193 billion (about USD 8.7 million) for Cambodia and supported Cambodian National Assembly and Senate to build information technology infrastructure for their Secretariats, and assisted Cambodian parliamentarians with Vietnamese-language training.

The two countries’ parliaments have also maintained regular visits. In December 2015, President of the Senate Say Chhum selected Vietnam as the first country to visit after taking office. Later in June 2015, the then Vietnamese NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung paid tribute to the late President of the Senate Chea Sim. In April 2015, President of Cambodia’s NA Heng Samrim attended the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Hanoi in April 2015.

To cement legislative ties, the two sides have supported NA specialized committees and parliamentary friendship associations.

Vietnam and Cambodia have enormous potential to elevate their relations to new heights, the article said, adding that the two countries’ peoples overcame historical challenges and stood side by side to fight colonialism, imperialism, and the Khmer Rouge regime.

Leaders of the two countries also confirmed their determination to nurture the time-honored friendship for the benefit of the two peoples as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development, the article said.