Kien Giang-Kampot relations: Strengthening border connectivity and cooperation

WVR - Kampot province (Cambodia) and Kien Giang province (Vietnam) are committed to further promoting friendly cooperation for prosperity of the two localities in particular and the two countries in general.
Consul General of Vietnam in Sihanoukville Vu Ngoc Ly (black shirt, center) and delegates witnessed representatives of Kien Giang and Kampot provinces sign the cooperation document in the coming time at the Preliminary Conference. (Source: Consulate General)
Consul General of Vietnam in Sihanoukville Vu Ngoc Ly (black shirt, center) and delegates witnessed representatives of Kien Giang and Kampot provinces to sign the cooperation document at the conference. (Photo: Consulate General in Sihanoukville)

Comprehensive achievements

In recent years, the cooperation between Kien Giang and the border provinces of the Kingdom of Cambodia, including Kampot, has seen comprehensive achievements.

The two sides have witnessed exciting cooperation activities in the fields of border security protection, trade, investment, agriculture, fisheries, healthcare, cultural exchanges, tourism, and sports.

As part of a series of activities to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cambodia, on the morning of July 28, in Kampot city, the People's Committee of Kien Giang province and the administrative committee of Kampot province held a conference on preliminary results of 3-year cooperation (2019-2021) and directions for the next year.

At the conference, Chairman of Kien Giang Provincial People's Committee Lam Minh Thanh highly appreciated the coordination between the two provinces’ functional forces, praised the achieved results, and thanked Kampot province for their activeness.

Kampot Governor Mao Thunin thanked Kien Giang for material and spiritual support; committed to accompany Kien Giang to further promote friendly cooperation relations.

In the spirit of solidarity, friendship, openness and frankness, representatives of the two localities made assessments of cooperation results between Kien Giang and Kampot.

The two sides highly appreciated the efforts to overcome difficulties and obstacles and promote cooperation in appropriate fields during the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially to ensure the safety and security for whole border line; the search, removal and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteers and experts who died during the war in Cambodia (the two provinces have so far repatriated 1,667 sets of martyrs' remains, in which, 41 sets have been repatriated in the past 3 years).

Colonel Vo Van Su - Provincial Party Member, Commander of the Border Guards of Kien Giang Province, Vietnam (on the left) and Major General Oeung Serel Roth - Deputy Director in charge of border affairs of the Kampot Provincial Police Department - sign Ag
Colonel Vo Van Su - Provincial Party Member, Commander of the Border Guards of Kien Giang Province (left) and Major General Oeung Serel Roth - Deputy Director in charge of border affairs of the Kampot Provincial Police Department, sign the Memorandum of Understanding, July 2022. (Photo: BĐBP)

The demarcation and marker planting have been facilitated. Up to now, on the border line between Kien Giang and CPC's provinces, mainly Kampot, 23/28 main markers and 80/80 secondary ones have been built.

Border gate management and trade have been paid attention to in the ways of reforming administrative procedures, helping people of the two sides visit relatives conveniently, easily travel, exchange goods and promote bilateral trade.

In the past 3 years (2019-2021), despite being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the total official two way export turnover still reached US$ 253,494,860.10 (up 32.32% compared to the last period (2016-2018).

In addition, other areas of cooperation such as electric energy, agriculture and forestry, fisheries, culture, society, tourism... are also promoted.

Apart from the achievements, the leaders frankly acknowledged a number of limitations and shortcomings. For example, security at the border is sometimes not handled timely; illegal entry and exit still occur, the written agreements, cooperation plans, emulation covenants between agencies and departments of the two provinces have been interrupted some time; activities of promoting investment, trade, tourism, searching for new markets are still limited; people-to-people exchange and cooperation activities have been suspended.

In Kien Giang province, there are many beautiful natural landscapes, which are an advantage in the development of tourism activities.
Kien Giang province owns many beautiful natural landscapes, which are an advantage for tourism development.

Continue to strengthen cooperation

Pointing out the solving direction, the two sides affirmed that they would coordinate well to solve outstanding issues and limitations; discuss on the contents, principles and measures in 6 areas bellowing.

Ensuring border security and crime prevention.

To continue to support the search, removal and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died during wars in Cambodia.

Coordinating and supporting the Joint Committee on Demarcation and Marking of the Vietnam-Cambodia land border in well implementing the two Governments’ plan.

To cooperate in good management of the border gate area; facilitating people on both sides of the border to go back and forth, visit relatives, travel, exchange goods.

To promote cooperation in the economic field, trade promotion, strengthen measures to prevent and combat smuggling and trade fraud; promote investment, tourism, support businesses for cooperation signing, joint venture, association.

To cooperate in the fields of culture and society, people-to-people exchanges, discovery and exchange of experiences in cultural and artistic activities, mutual understanding enhancement in order to strengthen people-to-people cooperation and friendship.

Leaders agreed to sign the above cooperation contents and assign agencies to implement. The two sides annually organize a preliminary review for assessment and lessons learned then continue to sign for the next years.

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