NA Chairman Meets Cambodian Leaders

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met with Cambodian Senate President Samdech Say Chhum in Phnom Penh on November 19, as part of his official visit to Cambodia and attendance to the 43rd ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-43), VNA reported.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and Cambodian Senate President Samdech Say Chhum. Photo: VNA

At the meeting, the two leaders believed that recent mutual visits by Vietnamese and Cambodian senior leaders will create a strong impetus to promote the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and their legislative bodies.

They agreed to strengthen collaboration in all channels of Party, Government, Parliament and people-to-people diplomacy; and continue exchanging legislative information and experience between their specialised committees.

Based on sound outcomes achieved in the Vietnam-Cambodia and Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Year 2022, Hue suggested the sides pay further attention to educating the people, especially youth, about the bilateral ties.

Both leaders expressed their delight at the fact that the legislatures of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos upgraded the conference of heads of NA committees for external relations to a biennial one of the NA chairpersons, which is expected to be held for the first time in Laos next year.

Hue said he hopes Samdech Say Chhum will further direct the promotion of the two countries’ friendship and comprehensive cooperation; support people of Vietnamese origin to have a stable life and integrate well into the host society; and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest and do business in Cambodia.

Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly of Cambodia and Vuong Dinh Hue, chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, sign the MoU on cooperation between the two legislatures in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on November 19.

The same day, the NA of Vietnam and the NA of Cambodia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to chart a course for further bilateral cooperation, according to VOV.

Signatories to the MoU are President of the Cambodian NA Heng Samrin and NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of a cooperation document between the Secretariats of the two legislatures on this occasion.

The signing of the documents took place in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on November 19 following talks between the two legislatures’ leaders.

During the talks the two sides expressed satisfaction at the positive development of bilateral relations in recent times, and vowed to further develop the friendship and boost comprehensive ties between the two countries, considering this an indispensable objective requirement for both sides.

They agreed to strengthen visit exchanges in a bid to seek effective measures aimed at promoting cooperation in the fields of their great potential, including trade – investment, banking, agriculture, industrial tree planting, education – training, information – communication, transportation, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

An overview of the high-level talks between the two legislatures’ leaders. Source: VOV

With regard to defence and security co-operation, the two sides consented to work closely together to prevent terrorist activities, transnational crimes, as well as drug and human smuggling and trafficking.

They also reaffirmed the principle of not allowing any hostile forces to use the territory of one country to harm the security of the other. They pledged to find mutually acceptable solutions to complete the remaining 16% workload of land border demarcation and border marker planting, in order to build a land border of peace, stability, co-operation, and development between the two countries.

Hue thanked Cambodia for closely coordinating with Vietnam in successfully rescuing many Vietnamese citizens who had been scammed and forced to work illegally at economic establishments owned by foreigners in Cambodia. He expected that both sides would continue to deal with the issue moving forward.

Discussing further ties between the two legislatures, the two leaders underscored the importance of strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Hue suggested that the two sides increase the exchange of delegations of their legislative bodies, as well as bringing into full play mechanisms to promote the efficiency of their cooperation. In the immediate future, he requested that the two sides competently prepare for the organisation of the Friendship Parliamentary Group Meeting of the two legislatures that is scheduled to take place in Vietnam in December.

The two sides agreed to work in tandem to both monitor and speed up the implementation of bilateral and multilateral treaties and agreements to which the two countries are either signatories or are members.

Among the documents were those relating to building partnerships and promoting multilateral solutions to global challenges, such as climate change, green and sustainable development, as well as food – energy – water resources – health security. In addition, both sides should seek to further promote joint development and cooperation programmes along border areas in order to build a common border of peace, cooperation, and development.

Regarding regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two leaders emphasised that Vietnam and Cambodia must further strengthen ties and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially within ASEAN and Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.

The two sides emphasised the importance of ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the Bien Dong Sea, as well as resolving disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Both host and guest also talked about the preparations being made ahead of a tripartite meeting between the leaders of the National Assemblies of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue meets King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni. Photo: VNA

Earlier, NA Chairman Hue also paid a courtesy call to King of Cambodia Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Monineath Sihanoukin Phnom Penh.

After the visit, the Vietnamese National Assembly delegation will attend the AIPA-43 General Assembly and meet partners participating in the meeting.