The ceremony saw the presence of Mr. Vu Mao, VCFA President; Venerable Thich Thien Tam, VCFA Vice President; Lt. General Le Phuc Nguyen, Editor in Chief of the Vietnam People’s Army Newspaper; representatives of the National Assembly’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, and former Vietnamese volunteer troops in Cambodia.
Mr. Hul Phany, Ambassador of Kingdom Cambodia to Vietnam; Cambodian Embassy’s staff and Cambodian students studying in Vietnam were also present. Mr. Vu Mao, Chairman of the Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Association congratulated on the significant achievements gianed by the Cambodian people in the development of the country in recent years.
The Cambodian economic growth remains fast and stable. The estimated growth rate is over 7% in 2013 and the coming years. People’s life is getting better, while the income per capita expectedly reaches about US $1000 in 2013.
The economic cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia has outstanding development. Currently, Vietnam ranked second among more than 140 countries having trade relations with Cambodia. In 2012, the trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia reached US $ 3.3 billion, increasing 17.8% as compared with 2011. The fields of education – training, power – energy, health care, transportation, security – defense are also attached importance by the two sides. Cooperation among localtities of the two countries, especially border provinces is practical and diversified, contributing to the enhancement of friendship and solidarity between the two countries’people.
Ambassador Hul Phany reviewed the history of national liberation struggles against colonialism and imperialism of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. On behalf of Cambodian people, Mr. Hul Phany expressed his thanks to Vietnam for standing side-by-side with Cambodian people in the struggle for national liberation against French colonials and Pol Pot’s genocide regime.
Currently, Vietnam has supported Cambodia in national construction, and minimizing the consequences of flood and natural calamities. On November 6, the Vietnamese National Assembly donated 1000 tons of rice to Cambodian National Assembly to support the Cambodian people in flooding areas.
Ambassador Hul Phany affirmed that Vietnam and Cambodia are the two neighboring countries sharing the Mekong river. Hence, the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries will be durable, stable and more developed.
Duc Minh
