PM attends cremation of ex-Cambodian King

On behalf of the Vietnamese Party and State leaders and people, PM Dung expressed deep sorrow for the death of the Cambodian King Father, who is a close friend of Vietnam, and affirmed that it is a great loss of the Cambodian people

Vietnam will never forget Sihanouk’s valuable support of its struggle for national liberation and reunification, he said, adding that he will do his utmost to join hands with King Norodom Sihamoni and other Cambodian leaders and people to continue maintaining and promoting the two countries’ fine traditional relations which have been nurtured by Sihanouk as well as generations of leaders and people of both sides.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with his Cambodian and French counterpart the same day during his visit to Cambodia for the cremation ceremony.

 
At his meeting with Cambodian PM Hun Sen in Phnom Penh, Dung extended deep sympathy to the Cambodian Royal family, leaders and people over the death of the King Father, while affirming his resolve to enhance the relations between the two countries.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and Cambodian PM Hun Sen

The two PMs expressed their pleasure at the friendship and comprehensive bilateral cooperation over the past time, especially in economics, trade and investment.

They applauded the joint activities that contributed to the success of the Vietnam–Cambodia Friendship Year in 2012 and the 45^th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, which helped raise public awareness, especially among the younger generations, about the friendship, cooperation and mutual support between the two peoples.

Talking with his French counterpart Jean Marc Ayrault, Dung said 2013 will be a good year for Vietnam and France to lift their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership level.

Dung stated that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing traditional ties with France -one of Vietnam’s priority partner s in Europe.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and his French counterpart Jean Marc Ayrault

He highly valued France’s commitment to provide Vietnam with US$340 million in Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2013, showing his wish to incease bilateral economic ties, in energy, space and aeronautics, infrastructure and housing.

Both sides confirmed that the two countries will work together to successfully organise activities during the Vietnam-France, France-Vietnam Year 2013-2014, and agreed to develop the Hanoi Technology-Science University to international standards

Earlier, PM Dung had a working session with the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Cambodia.

According to the association’s report, two-way trade between Vietnam and Cambodia hit US$ 3.3 billion in 2012, a year-on-year rise of 18 percent. Vietnam has so far had 112 licensed projects in Cambodia worth nearly US$ 2.5 billion, focusing on rubber planting, mining, oil and gas exploitation, electricity, telecommunications, finance and banking.

Addressing the working session, PM Dung said the association’s efforts in boosting business and investment in the neighbouring country has delivered practical socio-economic benefits to both countries, contributing to the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive and long-term cooperation, in line with the agreement reached by the two countries’ leaders.

He said he hopes that Vietnamese businesses will intensify their investment in Cambodia as a contribution to both countries’ common development.

He promised to discuss with the Cambodian side and relevant Vietnamese agencies ways to iron out snags and foster the best possible conditions for businesses keen to expand their operations in Cambodia 

PM Dung and his entourage left Phnom Penh for home in the evening the same day.