Vietnam is ready to help Cambodia indrug prevention and control, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trongassured in Phnom Penh on September 22.

Deputy PM Truong Vinh Trong, who is on a four-day working visit toCambodia from September 21, made the pledge while holding talks withhis Cambodian counterpart Ke Kim Yan, who is also the Chairman of theCambodian National Steering Committee for Drug Prevention and Control.

Vietnam is prepared to meet any requests by Cambodia to help it preventand combat drugs, including sending Vietnamese experts to Cambodia tobuild detoxification centres in Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham and PhnomPenh and providing medical equipment and Vietnamese-produced medicineto help drug addicts kick off their habits.

Deputy PM Trong affirmed Vietnam’s pledge to engage in informationexchange with Cambodia to combat drug-related crimes in the nationaland international framework as well as boost bilateral cooperationamong border guards.

The Deputy PM also praised the five-point suggestion by CambodianDeputy PM Ke Kim Yan, which aims to strengthen joint efforts by the twocountries in preventing and combating drugs and to increase Vietnam’sassistance in enhancing the capacity of Cambodia’s drug prevention andcontrol agencies. The suggestion completely conforms with theMemorandum of Understanding on the issue signed by the two countries in1998, he added.

For his part, Deputy PM Ke Kim Yan thanked Vietnam for its assistanceto Cambodia in organising training courses on techniques and tactics toinvestigate drug crimes including methods of analysis and drug testing.

The Cambodian Deputy PM also revealed that a concrete plan for traininghuman resources is expected to be signed by the two sides in Novemberat the bilateral ministerial conference on drug prevention and controlin Hanoi.

After talks with Deputy PM Ke Kim Yan, Deputy PM Trong presented toCambodia medicine made in Vietnam worth around 15,000 USD for drugaddiction treatment.

Previously, on September 21, the Vietnamese Deputy PM held talks withCambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. At the talks, PM Hun Sen expressedhis delight at Vietnam’s strong socio-economic development and theprosperous cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, especially indrug, prostitution and HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

During his stay in Cambodia, Deputy PM Trong visited somedetoxification centres in Phnom Penh. He is expected to visit Sihanoukprovince on September 23./.