HANOI: His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, marking the beginning of his two-day state visit at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong. The King and his entourage were warmly received at Noi Bai International Airport by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Ha Minh Hai, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang, along with other dignitaries.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the monarch is accompanied by key figures from the Cambodian government, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Royal Palace Samdech Mahamontrei Kuy Sophal, Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun, and Supreme Advisor to the King Chan Samdarind. This visit marks His Majesty’s fourth trip to Vietnam since his accession to the throne on October 29, 2004, with previous visits in 2006, 2012, and 2018.
During this visit, His Majesty the King is scheduled to eng
age in discussions with Vietnam’s highest-level officials with the aim of bolstering political trust and promoting cooperation in various areas such as economics, culture, and education. Cambodia and Vietnam have maintained diplomatic relations since June 24, 1967, and have continually worked towards strengthening their friendship, guided by the motto of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability.”
High-level exchanges have been frequent between the two nations, serving as a cornerstone for their bilateral relationship. Trade between Cambodia and Vietnam has seen significant growth, with an average annual increase of over 20 percent from 2015 to 2022, reaching over US$10 billion in 2022. Despite global economic challenges in 2023, trade between the two countries reached US$8.57 billion by October this year, with aspirations to achieve US$20 billion in the near future.
Vietnam stands as the largest ASEAN investor in Cambodia and one of the top five
globally, with 205 active projects and a total registered capital of US$2.94 billion as of July 2024. Conversely, Cambodia had initiated 38 investment projects in Vietnam, totaling US$76.8 million in registered capital as of October.