On the evening of June 17th, at Can Tho University, the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations joined the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association in Can Tho City, and other departments and agencies to celebrate the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Cambodia.
Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee and Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep, Director of Can Tho Department of Foreign Affairs give flowers and gifts to Mr. Sok Dareth and his wife.
The event provided an opportunity for citizens of the two nations to exchange mutual understanding and experience, strengthen friendship and collaboration, and promote Vietnam-Cambodia solidarity and friendship.
Present at the meeting were Mr. Sok Dareth, Consul General of Cambodia, his wife and members of the Consulate General; Mr. Tran Tan Ngo, Vice Chairman of Central Committee of Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association; representatives of Department of Localities III - Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs; leaders of Can Tho City People's Council, Can Tho City People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of Can Tho City as well as departments, agencies and branches of the City; Presidents of Friendship Associations... There were also 300 veterans, volunteer veterans, members of the Veterans Association, Military Command, and grassroot branches of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association in Can Tho City, as well as more than 50 Cambodian students and 700 students from universities and colleges in Can Tho City.
Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho City People's Committee, stated that Vietnam and Cambodia are neighboring nations with over 1,000 kilometers of shared borderline encompassing 10 Vietnamese provinces and 9 Cambodian ones. Since their diplomatic connection in 1967, the two countries have been through ups and downs together for more than 50 years, so the relationship has been developing. This development is beneficial and effective in every way, contributing to the construction of a peaceful, stable and long-term development environment with the motto "Good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability.”
Mr. Sok Dareth, Cambodian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, speaks at the ceremony.
Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties have maintained a favorable development momentum in politics, national defense and security, economy-trade-investment, culture-education, and multilateral cooperation during the two years (2020 and 2021). Vietnam and Cambodia have been coordinating and closely supporting each other in the prevention and management of COVID-19 in the spirit of good neighborliness and the tradition of sharing and mutual aid, particularly in tough times. Such measures kept the pandemic from spreading and aided the two countries' socioeconomic recovery.
Promoting cultural and civil exchange activities
Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien stated that Can Tho City government and people have long valued their traditional friendship and solidarity with Cambodian people as an important diplomatic factor. The City has been focusing on supporting and partnering with Cambodian agencies and units in conducting cultural and people-to-people exchange events in order to promote the strong friendship.
Other activities have included: organizing friendship exchanges in conjunction with charity work in Cambodia, such as medical examinations and treatment, and medicine distribution; assigning delegations to provide medical supplies and necessities to Cambodian people and Khmer - Vietnamese communities in Cambodia affected by COVID-19; maintaining scholarships and creating favorable conditions for Cambodian students studying at Can Tho University. Recently, the City leaders appointed a group to visit and engage with Cambodian Ministry of Interior, Royal Cambodian Army units, and neighboring localities to strengthen solidarity and open up more cooperative opportunities between the City and Cambodian partners..
Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, expected that the Consul General will use his positional ability to build a bridge for friendship and cooperation activities between Cambodia and Can Tho City in the future.
Mr. Hien expected that in the future, the Consul General will use his positional power to build a bridge for friendship and cooperative activities in various fields between Cambodia and Can Tho City, and strengthen cooperative activities in the fields of diplomacy, national defense, culture, sport, tourism, business, trade and cultural exchange with Cambodian partners.
Bringing the Vietnam - Cambodia cooperation to another level
Mr. Sok Dareth, Cambodian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, expressed his gratitude to the City leaders, related agencies, Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations, and Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association of Can Tho City for this meaningful celebration on behalf of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Ho Chi Minh City.
According to Mr. Sok Dareth, throughout the last 55 years, Vietnam and Cambodia have faced numerous challenges, stayed together, and shared joys and sorrows; in particular, the two nations have sacrificed lives for their independence, sovereignty, national unification, and territorial integrity. Until now, they have made major contributions to the peace and prosperity of the international community, particularly the ASEAN Community, of which both countries are members..
Mr. Sok Dareth emphasized that the 55th anniversary of Vietnam - Cambodia diplomatic ties in Can Tho City was important for the promotion and enhancement of the cooperation between the two countries, in accordance with the motto "Good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability”. It is made even more significant by the fact that the leaders of the two nations have selected 2022 as the "Cambodia-Vietnam, Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year" and have promised to host a number of major celebration activities..
Mr. Sok Dareth stated his delight in the long-term and growing strength of Vietnam-Cambodia cooperation and connection, which was reflected in the excellent implementation of political, economic, trade, and investment cooperation; land demarcation and border marker planting, and so on..
He also said that June 20th, 2022 would mark the 45th anniversary of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen's journey to overthrow the Pol Pot regime. As planned, Prime Ministers of Cambodia and Vietnam are going to have an official meeting and jointly preside over the tree planting ceremony, the friendship exchanges and the inauguration of historical sites at the border of Thbong Khmum province in X16 area (Cambodia) and Binh Phuoc Province of Vietnam.
Mr. Sok Dareth also thanked the Can Tho City People's Committee for providing scholarships to Cambodian students studying at several universities in the city, as well as for actively supporting Cambodian students and citizens studying, working, and running businesses in the difficult context of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Apart from reviewing Cambodia and Vietnam's 55-year tradition of solidarity and attachment, friendship, and comprehensive collaboration, the delegates also enjoyed several cultural performances, demonstrating the sustainable solidarity between the two countries.
Thanh Xuan.Translated by Spartans
