Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn co-chaired the 21st session of the commission in Siem Reap, where both sides reviewed recent progress and set plans to implement high-level agreements.

Sokhonn congratulated Vietnam on what he described as significant development achievements and a growing regional and international profile. He said he was confident Vietnam would reach its economic targets, including the prospect of double-digit growth, becoming an upper-middle-income country with modern industry by 2030 and a high-income economy by 2045.

Sokhonn said Cambodia considers its relationship with Vietnam as a special one rooted in shared history, adding that progress in both countries has been supported by longstanding cooperation and mutual assistance.

Trung, for his part welcomed Cambodia’s recent growth and believed the country would meet its long-term development goals under the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) led by Hun Sen and the current government. He reiterated that Vietnam places a high priority on its traditional cooperative ties with Cambodia.

Both sides noted positive momentum in bilateral relations, including a high-level meeting between the ruling parties in February 2025 and frequent exchanges between senior leaders. Mechanisms for cooperation have also delivered more tangible results, such as recent defence policy dialogues and border friendship activities.

Trade and investment ties have improved, with bilateral trade reaching US$10.4 billion in the first eleven months of 2025.

The two sides pledged to boost trade and investment, facilitate business operations, enhance transport connectivity and expand cooperation in energy, agriculture, tourism, and high-tech industries.

They agreed to strengthen border management, prevent hostile forces from using their territories against each other, and step up efforts to combat cross-border crimes. They committed to closer coordination in education and training, cultural exchanges, water resource protection, climate change response and cooperation in Mekong sub-regional mechanisms.

At the end of the session, the two diplomats signed the meeting’s minutes on behalf of their governments. Both sides agreed to hold the 22nd session of the Vietnam–Cambodia Joint Commission in Vietnam at an appropriate time in 2026.

During a separate meeting on December 8 with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun, Foreign Minister Trung called for a breakthrough in economic cooperation, especially transport connectivity between the two countries. He also called for stronger coordination in managing the land border and combating cross-border crimes.

Trung thanked the Cambodian government for facilitating the lives and work of the ethnic Vietnamese community in Cambodia, saying their contributions support the country’s socio-economic development.

Addressing recent tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, Trung urged both sides to exercise restraint, engage in dialogue and respect peaceful agreements, saying Vietnam supports a long-term, peaceful solution that benefits both nations and upholds ASEAN unity.

Vietnamese, Cambodian PMs hold talks during Tan Nam-Meun Chey international border gate inauguration

VOV.VN - Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet on December 8 held talks on the sidelines of the joint inauguration of the Tan Nam (Tay Ninh province, Vietnam) – Meun Chey (Prey Veng province, Cambodia) international border gate to review the achievements of bilateral cooperation to date and discuss measures to further boost ties.