PM Phuc meets Cambodian, Lao counterparts ahead of MRC Summit

Meeting with the Cambodian PM, the Vietnamese cabinet leader highly appreciated Cambodia's success at the Mekong-Lancang Summit in January 2018 and its continued efforts to host the third Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit, thereby helping to raise Cambodia’s role and standing in the region.

He also expressed his delight to visit Cambodia when Chol Chnam Thmay, the New Year festival of Cambodia is nearing.

He congratulated the tremendous achievements the Cambodian people have recorded in the cause of national construction and development and believed that the Cambodian people, under the leadership of the Government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen, will successfully organize the National Assembly election this year.

The Vietnamese government leader reiterated Vietnam consistent policy of attaching great importance to strengthening its friendly neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia.

The PMs noted with satisfaction the positive development of bilateral relations over recent years and expressed their determination to deepen and bring the friendship and all-around cooperation between the two countries to a new height.

They praised the two countries for signing a double taxation avoidance agreement and minutes of the two chairs’ meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee on Land Border Demarcation and Marker Planting on the sidelines ofthe sixth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS-6) Summit and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV-10) Development Triangle Summit in Hanoi.

The two government leaders consented to maintain high-level exchange visits, closely coordinate in holding the 16th Joint Vietnam-Cambodia Committee on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation in Hanoi slated for May16-18. The two sides exchanged views on issues of shared concern such as those relating to border and Cambodian of Vietnamese origin.

They hailed the efforts of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee on Land Border Demarcation and Marker Planting in having completed a great deal of work in the recent past and wished the two sides would accomplish this task as soon as possible.

Host and guest also agreed to boost coordination in the settlement of issues relating to the legal status of Vietnamese-Cambodians on the basis of respect for Cambodian law and the spirit of traditional friendship between the two countries.

At the meeting with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith, both concurred to accelerate the implementation of agreements signed during visits by leaders and the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Lao Inter-Governmental Committee.

PM Phuc asked for more promotion of Vietnamese investment and facilitation of Vietnamese workers in Laos and the establishment of Vietnamese community association in some provinces.

He thanked PM Thongloun Sisoulith and Lao delegation for their contributions to the success of the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit (GMS 6) and the tenth Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam Development Triangle Summit (CLV 10) held in Hanoi last week.

He proposed that in accordance with the high-level agreement between the two Politburos, the two countries will work closely together at all levels, at bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to promote the effective and sustainable use and management of Mekong River water resources, harmoniously ensuring interests of nations along the river for the sustainable development of the two nations and the region.

Both leaders agreed to capitalize on the success of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year last year to foster the special solidarity between the two nations.

On the occasion of the forthcoming Lao traditional New Year festival Bun Pi May, PM Phuc extended New Year wishes to Lao leaders and wished Lao increasing prosperity.