Standing Member of Secretariat Tran Cam Tu's official visit to Cambodia: Unifying vision on cooperation directions
WVR - According to Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu, the official visit to Cambodia by Politburo Member and Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu demonstrates the high priority of Party and State of Vietnam in strengthening and developing the traditional friendship and cooperation with Cambodia.
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| General Secretary To Lam and Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party, during a state visit to Cambodia, February 2026. (Source: Nhan Dan Newspaper) |
Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu will lead a high-level Vietnamese delegation on an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia on April 9 and 10 at the invitation of Samdech Vibolsena Pheakdei Say Chhum, Vice Chairman and Standing Member of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party.
On this occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu gave an interview to The World and Vietnam Report about the significance of the visit and upcoming expectations.
How do Ambassador evaluate the purpose, significance, and importance of the upcoming visit by Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu in the current context of bilateral relations??
The official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia by Comrade Tran Cam Tu, Politburo Member, Standing Member of the Secretariat, and our Party's high-level delegation takes place amidst a highly complex regional and global situation, with numerous instabilities, unpredictable changes, and conflicts occurring in various regions.
Meanwhile, the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia has been strengthened and deepened, becoming more substantive and effective.
At the beginning of 2026, General Secretary To Lam led a highly successful state-level Vietnamese delegation visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia. Most recently, on April 2, the Embassy successfully organized a friendly meeting with the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party on the occasion of the Khmer traditional New Year 2026 and to celebrate the success of the 14th Congress.
In this context, the official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia by Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu is of great significance.
Firstly, the visit is part of the first overseas trip by the Standing Member of the Secretariat after the 14th Congress, in his role as a key leader of the Party and State. The visit takes place right after the first session of the 16th National Assembly completed the consolidation of State leadership positions, demonstrating our Party and State's high priority on strengthening and developing the traditional friendship and cooperation with Cambodia.
Secondly, the visit occurs just before Cambodia's traditional New Year, allowing Comrade Tran Cam Tu to extend New Year greetings on behalf of the Party and State leaders of Vietnam to Cambodian leaders, people, and friends.
Thirdly, a very important aspect of the visit is to review and discuss the implementation of agreements reached by the leaders of the two parties and countries during the high-level meeting last February in Phnom Penh.
In this spirit, according to the planned schedule, during this visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu will hold important talks and meetings with leaders of the Cambodian Party, Senate, National Assembly, and Royal Government, along with many other significant activities.
The visit by Standing Member of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu takes place as the two countries prepare to celebrate the 59th anniversary of diplomatic relations, heading towards the 60th anniversary of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic relations (24/6/1967-24/6/2027). On this occasion, could you share the important achievements in the cooperation relationship between the two countries in recent times?
Over the past 59 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia have always stood shoulder to shoulder, united, sharing, and supporting each other in difficult and challenging times.
In meetings with me, senior leaders of Cambodia, as well as leaders of various ministries, sectors, and localities, have always expressed sincere gratitude for the assistance of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in helping the Cambodian people escape the genocidal regime of Pol Pot.
Conversely, our leaders have always expressed gratitude for the significant support, assistance, and sacrifices of the Cambodian people in the liberation of southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country.
Over the past 59 years, the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia has been carefully nurtured by generations of leaders and people of both countries, continuously strengthened and developed deeply under the motto "good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability", bringing practical benefits to the people of both countries.
Political-diplomatic relations have always played a core role in guiding the overall relations between the two countries. Both sides have consistently maintained high-level contacts and exchanges, coordinated the organization of bilateral cooperation mechanisms across all channels.
Notably, the annual high-level meeting mechanism between the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the CPP has become a model in the cooperative relationship between the two countries, demonstrating the close bond between the two Parties, two States, and the peoples of the two countries, contributing to increasingly strengthening political trust, guiding and unifying the long-term cooperation direction between Vietnam and Cambodia.
Additionally, both sides have closely coordinated at regional and international forums, as well as in trilateral mechanisms involving Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia, thereby demonstrating consensus and responsibility in maintaining peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
Cooperation in defense-security continues to be strengthened, serving as an important pillar in the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia. Both sides adhere to the principle of not allowing any hostile forces to use the territory of one country to harm the security and interests of the other.
This ensures that each country has a solid strategic rear, free from threats from the other side of the border; defense-security cooperation in recent years has also effectively prevented cross-border crimes (smuggling, drugs, human trafficking...), contributing to maintaining security and order in the border area.
Based on treaties, agreements, and high-level agreements between the two countries, relevant agencies, authorities, and border localities on both sides strive to build a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and developing common border.
Both sides have signed two legal documents recognizing the results of demarcation and marker planting for about 84% of the land border and are currently continuing negotiations to resolve the remaining 16% of the land border.
Economy, trade, and investment are driving forces for substantive cooperation, the focus of cooperation between the two countries from now until 2030. Economic-trade-investment cooperation between the two countries is on a strong development trajectory, complementing each other.
Vietnam is currently the fifth-largest investor in Cambodia with over 215 projects and a total registered capital of nearly 3 billion USD. Vietnamese enterprises not only play an important role in promoting Cambodia's economic growth but also contribute to job creation for Cambodian people and social welfare work.
In terms of trade scale, we reached a record bilateral trade turnover of 11.33 billion USD in 2025, an increase of 11.7% compared to 2024. Vietnam is currently one of Cambodia's three largest trading partners (after China and the United States) and the second-largest export market for Cambodian goods (after the United States). This is a foundation for both sides to strive towards the goal of reaching 20 billion USD as agreed upon by the high-level leaders of the two countries.
Education-training and human resource development are always given special attention by both countries with a long-term strategic vision. Annually, Vietnam grants hundreds of short-term and long-term training scholarships to Cambodian students, while Cambodia also offers scholarships for cultural and Khmer language training to Vietnam.
Both sides are promoting vocational training, cadre training, and high-quality human resource development to serve the integration and sustainable development of both countries.
In the healthcare sector, Cambodian people, especially in border provinces, receive free medical examinations and treatment, eye surgeries, and medication from Vietnamese medical teams; at the same time, Cambodians seeking medical treatment in Vietnam are charged the same fees as Vietnamese citizens. The two countries also closely cooperate in responding to natural disasters, epidemics, and timely support each other with vaccines and medical supplies.
Regarding people-to-people exchanges, the close neighborhood relationship facilitates easier visits for family and tourism between the two countries. In 2025, visitors from Vietnam topped the list of countries with tourists to Cambodia, and more and more Cambodians are visiting Vietnam.
Not only bringing economic benefits, frequent exchanges among the people enhance understanding and affection between the peoples of the two countries, especially the younger generation. Today, it is not uncommon for Vietnamese people to have knowledge of Khmer culture and vice versa, young Cambodians also appreciate Vietnamese culture.
Local twinning programs, youth exchange delegations, friendship associations, and mass organizations have fostered strong grassroots friendships, creating a solid social foundation for long-term friendly relations.
Ultimately, the close relationship and solidarity between Vietnam and Cambodia enhance the role and position of each country on the international stage.
The close ties and coordination between the two countries contribute to strengthening ASEAN solidarity, maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world, and are important factors bringing prosperity and happiness to the people of each country.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia) |
The relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is always considered the core political foundation, guiding the overall relationship between the two countries. How do you evaluate the connection between the two Parties in recent times, and how will this visit contribute to strengthening political trust between the two sides?
Recent times have shown that the relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Cambodian People's Party is a solid political foundation and plays a core role in guiding all aspects of the relationship between our two countries.
In this, the political trust between the two Parties, two countries of Vietnam and Cambodia is a "solid anchor" and the core foundation to realize the motto "good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability".
This political trust has been and is guiding strategic directions for all bilateral cooperation fields, strengthened through regular meetings between the highest leaders of the two Parties and two States.
Through these meetings, outstanding issues can be resolved in the spirit of solidarity, friendship, sincerity, and mutual assistance between the two neighboring peoples who have stood shoulder to shoulder in the most difficult times. At these meetings, the leaders of the two Parties and two countries agree on a vision for cooperation directions that the ministries, sectors, and localities of the two countries will implement.
Based on the nearly six-decade-long history of the relationship between the two countries, as well as the complex and unpredictable regional and global situation, I believe that the solidarity between the two Parties, two countries nurtured through the shared vision and determination of the leaders of the two Parties and two countries is a valuable asset that needs to be preserved and developed for future generations. It is the basis for us to place our trust in the comprehensive, effective, and substantive breakthrough in comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia in the new context.
In the context of Vietnam entering a new era of development, could you share expectations for the upcoming cooperation directions between the two Parties, two States to realize the special relationship under the motto "good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability"?
To realize the special relationship under the motto "good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability" between the two countries, I personally hope that the relationship between the two countries will continue to be promoted effectively and substantively based on mutual connection and supplementation in all areas of cooperation.
In politics-diplomacy, both sides will continue to promote delegation exchanges and bilateral cooperation mechanisms, strengthen coordination, and consult at multilateral forums to consolidate political trust, promote mutual understanding, effectively contribute to cooperation between the two countries, and contribute to regional and global peace and stability.
In economics, the focus of cooperation in the coming time, I hope both sides will enhance connectivity in both hard and soft infrastructure with the goal of achieving a trade turnover of 20 billion USD soon, especially in transportation and tourism connectivity such as the Ho Chi Minh City-Phnom Penh expressway connection, Kampot-Phu Quoc maritime route connection; policy and regulation connectivity to truly create a new economic cooperation mechanism between the two countries suitable to the current context. At the same time, I also hope that the governments of the two countries will continue to pay attention and create more favorable conditions for businesses to continue seeking business opportunities, cooperation, and resolving difficulties and obstacles to expand investment, bringing practical benefits to businesses, people, and contributing to maintaining socio-economic stability in each country.
In security and defense, this is an important pillar and a highlight in the relationship between the two countries in recent years. Accordingly, both sides need to continue to strengthen cooperation, effectively implement the annual cooperation plan and the protocol on defense-security cooperation to effectively coordinate in preventing schemes and tactics to sabotage and divide the relationship between the two countries, ensuring the maintenance of a peaceful and stable environment between the two countries and the region as well as cooperating in preventing and suppressing transnational crimes, especially drug trafficking, human trafficking, online fraud...
Additionally, I also hope that both sides will have new forms to enhance the effectiveness of cultural, educational, media cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges to contribute to propagating and raising awareness among the people about the traditional good relationship between our two countries.
To realize the agreements and results achieved after the visit of the Standing Member of the Secretariat, what specific plans does the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia have to promote and effectively implement cooperation programs, Ambassador?
To implement the important results of the visit, the Embassy will continue to monitor and advise on promoting the effective implementation of strategic directions, documents, and cooperation agreements reached between the two Parties and two States in all fields.
In political and diplomatic cooperation, the Embassy will promote and facilitate high-level visits as well as review the implementation of agreements by the high-level leaders of the two parties, two countries, as well as by ministries, sectors, and localities. The Embassy will actively advise on promoting new areas of cooperation that can be implemented in the near future.
In economy, trade, and investment, the Embassy will enhance economic diplomacy activities. At the end of April 2026, the Embassy will organize the 2026 Business Dialogue to promote investment and business of Vietnamese enterprises with Cambodia, focusing on agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and digital transformation.
The Embassy will also continue to promote the connection of the Ho Chi Minh City-Phnom Penh expressway and the Kampot-Phu Quoc maritime route. One of the Embassy's key tasks is to support businesses in seeking investment and business opportunities as well as facilitating exchanges with relevant agencies of the two countries to resolve difficulties for businesses.
Cultural and educational diplomatic activities will continue to be promoted by the Embassy to enhance exchanges and connections between Vietnam and Cambodia, with the Embassy closely coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to organize the Vietnam Culture Week in Cambodia in May.
Additionally, the Embassy will closely coordinate with relevant agencies of the two countries to effectively carry out consular work, citizen protection, and effectively support Vietnamese people and Vietnamese-origin residents living, studying, and working in the host country to contribute more positively to Cambodia's socio-economic development and build a good, strong relationship between the two countries.
The year 2027 will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, a significant milestone marking the development of bilateral relations. To contribute to celebrating this important event, the Embassy will actively and proactively advise on building programs and plans to organize many foreign and cultural activities, thereby contributing to deepening, substantive, and effective relations between the two countries and enhancing the emotional connection between the peoples of the two countries.
Thank you very much, Ambassador!
