(VOVworld) - The 13th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee for Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Co-operation opened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Monday.


The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, Chairman of the Vietnam-Cambodia Co-operation Sub-committee, and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, Chairman of the Cambodia-Vietnam Co-operation Sub-committee. Both sides said the bilateral ties have progressed with the Prime Ministers of both countries having paid reciprocal visits last year. They agreed to increase two-way trade from 3.5 billion USD last year to 5 billion USD by 2015. In 2013 Vietnam invested more than 3 billion USD in Cambodia, ranking 5th among foreign investors there.

In the previous meeting in Hanoi last August, the two sides agreed to create favorable conditions to boost economics, trade, and investment, and help enterprises resolve difficulties and implement approved projects. The committee promised to promote new deals, including the planning of border markets between Vietnam and Cambodia from 2010-2020. The two sides encouraged cooperation among ministries, sectors, and localities and the organization of cultural and sporting events to strengthen Vietnam-Cambodia friendship and co-operation.