Cambodian King begins state visit to Việt Nam

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn welcomes Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni at Nội Bài International Airport on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni arrived in Hà Nội on November 28 morning, beginning his two-day state visit to Việt Nam at the invitation of State President Lương Cường.

The King and his entourage were greeted at Nội Bài International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn, Vice Chairman of the Hà Nội People's Committee Hà Minh Hải, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyễn Huy Tăng, and other officials.

Norodom Sihamoni is accompanied by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Royal Palace, and Supreme Advisor to the King Samdech Mahamontrei Kuy Sophal, Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun, and Supreme Advisor to the King and Deputy Chief of the King's Office Chan Samdarind, among others.

Since his ascension to the throne on October 29, 2004, or after 20 years of reign, Norodom Sihamoni made three trips to Việt Nam in 2006, 2012, and 2018. And, this time marks his fourth visit to the country.

During this visit, the King will hold talks with all of Việt Nam's highest-level leaders, strengthening political trust and promoting cooperation in various fields, including economics, culture and education.

Việt Nam and Cambodia officially established diplomatic relations on June 24, 1967, and their friendship has ever since been continuously nurtured and developed. In 2005, leaders of the two countries agreed on a new approach to their relations following the motto of "good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability". Guided by this principle, their relationship has been further strengthened across all fields.

High-level exchanges between the two countries have remained frequent in various forms, playing a vital role in guiding the relationship between the two countries.

Việt Nam-Cambodia bilateral trade has grown substantially, with an average annual increase of over 20 per cent from 2015 to 2022, surpassing US$10 billion in 2022. Despite the challenges posed by the global economic downturn in 2023, two-way trade still reached $8.57 billion. By October this year, the figure had reached $8.35 billion, with both countries aiming to achieve $20 billion in trade in the near future.

Việt Nam remains the largest investor from ASEAN and one of the top five investors globally in Cambodia, with 205 active projects worth a total registered capital of $2.94 billion as of July 2024. Meanwhile, Cambodia had run 38 investment projects in Việt Nam, with a total registered capital of $76.8 million as of October.