Hanoi (VNA) – The 16th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, and Scientific-Technological Cooperation was held inHanoi on May 17 under the co-chair of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs andInternational Cooperation Prak Sokhonn.

Both Minhand Prak Sokhonn agreed that since the committee’s previous meeting in Marchlast year, the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship has grown continuously with manyachievements.

The two nationsjointly held many activities to mark the Friendship Year 2017 and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, including the exchange of manyhigh-level delegations.

Bilateral cooperationmechanisms as well as partnerships among ministries, sectors and localities ofboth countries have been strengthened, while the land border demarcation,border marker planting and border management have seen progresses. Currently,84 percent of land border demarcation and marker planting work has beenaccomplished, they noted, adding that the two sides are determined to finishthe work soon in an effort to build a shared border of peace, friendship,cooperation and sustainable development.

Seniorleaders of Vietnam and Cambodia also pledged to continue creating favourableconditions for Vietnamese and Cambodian people to settle in each other’sterritories in line with the law of each nation.

The twosides highlighted that bilateral economic ties have also seen positive signalswith two-way trade reaching 3.8 billion USD in 2017, a rise of 25 percent over2016. Vietnam has invested in 196 projects in Cambodia with total registeredcapital of 2.94 billion USD, mostly in agro-forestry sector, making Vietnam oneof the five biggest foreign investors in Cambodia.

At the sametime, Cambodian firms have invested in 18 projects in Vietnam with combinedinvestment of 58.12 million USD.

Vietnameseinvestors in Cambodia have been highly valued by Prime Minister Hun Sen and otherCambodian leaders for significant contributions to the socio-economicdevelopment of Cambodia.

Meanwhile,the two sides have worked together to strengthen connectivity in economy andtransport. In July last year, they concluded negotiations on a memorandum ofunderstanding on the Vietnam-Cambodia transportation cooperation strategy inthe 2018-2025 period with a vision to 2030.

The twocountries inaugurated a bridge connecting Long Binh (An Giang) and Chrey Thom(Kandal) in April 2017, while opening to traffic the Le Thanh (Gia Lai) - Oyadav(Rattanakiri) border gate in July 2017.

Every year,Vietnam has granted hundreds of scholarships to Cambodian students, whileCambodia has also helped Vietnam in personnel training.

At themeeting, the two sides discussed major orientations and specific measures tofurther expand and deepen the bilateral partnership. They concurred to bolster cooperationin personnel training, while creating optimal conditions for economic, tradeand investment relations

They willcontinue reinforce and boost coordination in security-defence, transportinfrastructure development, industry-mining-energy, agro-forestry-fisheries,information and communications, health care, labour, social affairs, religion,culture, sports and tourism, and environment. Vietnam and Cambodia willcontinue enhancing ties among localities and within the framework of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnamtriangle development.

Theypledged to continue to manage the shared border in line with already signed treatiesand agreements, while working closely to fulfill the target of legalising thecompleted work in border demarcation in 2018, and continue seeking suitablesolutions to finish the remaining work.

TheCambodian side agreed to continue applying measures to ensure the legitimaterights of overseas Vietnamese in Cambodia.

They twosides also agreed to implement the mid-term review mechanism to ensure theeffective implementation of reached agreements.

After themeeting, the two ministers signed the minutes of the meeting. The 17th meeting of the committee will be held in Cambodia in 2019.-VNA