 Cambodian National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin (Photo: VNA) |
The Cambodian top legislator’s visit to Vietnam is the first high-ranking exchange between the two legislatures since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Respect for traditional friendship
NA President Samdech Heng Samrin’s visit to Vietnam is of great importance to both countries as they are co-organizing activities to mark the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022, the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and the 45th anniversary of the “Journey to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime”.
Over the years, the two legislatures’ cooperation has grown steadily. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, they maintain regular exchanges online.
They have effectively implemented their 2019 Cooperative Agreement and created a favorable legal foundation for specialized committees and parliamentary friendship groups to share experience in legislation, oversight, and decision-making on major national issues.
The two legislatures’ functional agencies have regularly overseen the implementation of bilateral agreements concerning border territory, land border marker planting and demarcation, national defense and security, education and training, and transportation infrastructure. They have also worked closely to helped ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses implement bilateral agreements.
The two legislatures have cooperated at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the ASEAN People’s Forum (APF), the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP).
The External Relations Committee and the National Defense and Security Committee of the Vietnamese National Assembly and their Cambodian and Lao counterparts have organized regular thematic meetings on the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle.
Vu Hai Ha, Head of the External Relations Committee of the Vietnamese National Assembly, said: "The legislatures of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam have set up cooperation mechanisms between their Committees of External Relations, National Defense and Security, Economics, and Budget and Finance. The three legislatures have agreed to upgrade their relations to the NA Chairman level."
NA President Heng Samrin’s visit is significant to bilateral ties
During the Cambodian top legislator’s visit, the two sides will discuss major directions and solutions to effectively implement cooperative agreements and to boost bilateral ties. They will discuss ways to boost cooperation in national defense and security, economics, trade, investment, education, training, border delineation and demarcation, and transportation infrastructure connectivity.
 Vice Head of the External Relations Committee of the NA Dinh Cong Sy (Photo: quochoi.vn) |
Vice Head of the External Relations Committee of the NA Dinh Cong Sy said: "The two sides will discuss solutions to strengthen high-ranking exchanges and cooperation between their committees and parliamentarians. They will also share experience in legislation and oversight."
The two legislatures will create a legal framework to support the two governments in post-COVID socio-economic recovery and to strengthen coordination at multilateral forums. They aim to bolster cooperation in human resource training, technical assistance, and IT between the Cambodian NA Secretariat and the Vietnamese NA Office.
NA President Heng Samrin’s visit exemplifies the two countries’ respect for their neighborliness, friendship, and long-standing, sustainable, comprehensive cooperation.