(Hanoi): Samdech Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia, paid a courtesy call on To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and State President of Viet Nam, on Tuesday morning (Jul. 28) as part of her official and friendship visit to Viet Nam.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing bilateral relations in the spirit of "good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term stability," with the shared goal of promoting sustainable development and delivering greater benefits to the peoples of both countries.

To Lam warmly welcomed Samdech Khuon Sudary and the Cambodian high-level National Assembly delegation, describing the visit as another testament to the enduring friendship between Cambodia and Viet Nam.

He congratulated Cambodia on its continued socio-economic progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet and welcomed the strong public support for the leadership of the Senate, the National Assembly, and the Royal Government.

For her part, Samdech Khuon Sudary expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and congratulated To Lam on his re-election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam for the 2026–2031 term. She commended his vision of leading Viet Nam toward developed, high-income status by 2045.

She also praised Viet Nam's achievements in governance, economic reform, public administration, and anti-corruption, noting that they have accelerated economic growth and strengthened the country's position as an influential economic and strategic power in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Samdech also briefed To Lam on the outcomes of her earlier talks with Tran Thanh Man, Chairman of the National Assembly of Viet Nam, highlighting their agreement to revise the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding between the two National Assemblies to better reflect current priorities and deepen parliamentary cooperation.

On the occasion, To Lam recalled his productive discussions with Samdech Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate, during his visit to Phnom Penh in February and welcomed the positive momentum in Cambodia–Viet Nam relations.

He said both sides shared a common vision of strengthening regional connectivity, including the proposed Phnom Penh–Ho Chi Minh City expressway, while continuing to develop the Cambodia–Viet Nam border into one of peace, friendship, and prosperity.

He also called for closer cooperation in trade, investment, and agriculture, encouraging greater imports of Cambodian rice and cashew nuts as well as increased investment in agricultural processing in Cambodia. As ASEAN member states, he added, Cambodia and Viet Nam should continue working together to uphold ASEAN unity and promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

Turning to regional and international affairs, Samdech Khuon Sudary highlighted the growing role of parliamentary diplomacy in an increasingly complex global environment, noting that it complements state and party diplomacy by strengthening political trust, promoting dialogue, and advancing peace and sustainable development based on international law.

She reaffirmed Cambodia's commitment to international law, peace, and an open, inclusive, rules-based multilateral system, stressing the importance of upholding the Charter of the United Nations and strengthening international cooperation to safeguard global peace, stability, and shared prosperity.

The meeting reaffirmed the deep political trust and enduring friendship between Cambodia and Viet Nam, with both sides expressing confidence that closer cooperation would advance long-term development, strengthen regional connectivity, and deliver lasting prosperity for the peoples of both countries and the region.
=FRESH NEWS