While meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Phnom Penh on April 27, Mr Trong, who is currently on an official visit to Cambodia, thanked them for their good feelings and significant contributions to the homeland and said the Party and State pay attention to the lives of Vietnamese communities abroad, including those in Cambodia.

He briefed them on the country’s economic development and said the current international economic integration brings both opportunities and challenges to the country. He shared their concerns about the situation in Vietnam and reaffirmed the Party and State’s determination to combat corruption and wastefulness and accelerate administrative reform.

He also briefed overseas Vietnamese on the preparations for the upcoming election of deputies to the 12th National Assembly on May 20 and expressed his belief that Vietnamese people will select competent candidates for the new legislative body.

Representatives of overseas Vietnamese in Cambodia expressed delight at the country’s important achievements in politics, economic development and external affairs, which they said testified to the correct guidelines and leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Though living in Cambodia, they said they always turn their hearts to the homeland and wish to make further contributions to national construction and development. They vowed to unite, assist each other in economic development and abide by the Cambodian law to integrate well into local communities.

Visiting the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh the same day, Mr Trong praised the ambassador and staff for their efforts to fulfill assigned tasks and help strengthen cooperative ties between the two countries. He noted that 40 years after Vietnam and Cambodia established their diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have been developing well in many areas. He asked embassy staff to work harder in the lead-up to the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomacy this year and join the movement “studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example”.

Later, Mr Trong visited the National Museum and the Gold and Silver Pagodas in Phnom Penh.

On April 28, he will leave Phnom Penh for Siem Reap, continuing his official visit to Cambodia from April 25.