The visit of a senior official from the CPV strengthens political trust and multifaceted cooperation in Cambodia.

A high-ranking official from the CPV’s visit to Cambodia strengthens political trust and diverse cooperation

Vietnam – Cambodia: strategic partnership reinforced between the two fronts A meeting in Phnom Penh to strengthen the Vietnam – Cambodia friendship Tran Cam Tu’s visit will enhance Vietnam – Cambodia’s political trust Tran Cam Tu, a member of the Political Bureau and the Permanent Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam, was received by the President of the Cambodian National Assembly, Khuon Sudary.

This visit, following Tran Cam Tu’s official trip to Laos, was made at the invitation of Samdech Say Chhum, the vice president of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the president of the Permanent Committee of the CPP Central Committee.

Maintaining good neighborly relations, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability have been reinforced Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on June 24, 1967, nearly six decades ago, Vietnam and Cambodia have built a relationship based on solidarity, friendship, and a common history. Their bond was forged during struggles for national independence and strengthened with Cambodia’s victory over the genocidal regime of Pol Pot, thanks to the support of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts. This legacy not only reflects solidarity between Vietnam and Cambodia but also symbolizes sincere international solidarity.

Close ties The leaders and peoples of both countries have continuously nurtured their good neighborly and friendly relations. Vietnam has always attached great importance to its relations with Cambodia, as well as to the solidarity and close links between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Cambodia has consistently promoted friendship and cooperation between the two parties, governments, and peoples.

In 2005, the highest leaders of both countries agreed on a new guiding principle for the development of bilateral relations: “good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability.” Since then, relations have deepened in many sectors, with political and diplomatic relations taking center stage.

Exchanges at all levels have been maintained, and bilateral cooperation mechanisms have been implemented through various channels. It is worth noting that the annual high-level meeting between the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Permanent Council of the Central Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has become a key element of bilateral cooperation. This mechanism has helped strengthen political trust and guide Vietnam – Cambodia cooperation in the long term.

During the recent state visit of the Party’s General Secretary, Tran Cam Tu, to Cambodia, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to usher in a new era of cooperation. They pledged to strengthen political ties, the foundation of bilateral relations, enhance coordination on political stability and security, and deepen the integration of their economies. During a trilateral meeting of the leaders of the Parties of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos on February 6, 2026, the three countries also agreed to reinforce their solidarity, maintain regular consultations, and closely coordinate their efforts to preserve each other’s legitimate interests while maintaining a peaceful and stable environment conducive to development.

Additionally, Vietnam and Cambodia have established essential bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the 21st Joint Commission meeting on economic, cultural, and scientific and technological cooperation, held on December 9, 2025, in Siem Reap, and the 13th Conference on cooperation and development between their border provinces, on November 27 and 28, 2025, in Phnom Penh.

Defense and security cooperation remain a cornerstone of this partnership, growing stronger and deeper. Both parties have reaffirmed the principle of not allowing any hostile force to use one country’s territory to jeopardize the other’s security.

Beyond bilateral mechanisms, the two countries have closely coordinated their actions within international, regional, and sub-regional bodies, especially within ASEAN, the United Nations, and Mekong, contributing to ASEAN’s collective efforts to maintain peace, stability, and development in the region and globally.

Economic, trade, and investment cooperation have become a major focus of bilateral relations. Vietnam is currently Cambodia’s third-largest trading partner globally and the first within ASEAN. Bilateral trade has averaged around $10 billion annually in recent years, reaching $11.3 billion in 2025. The two countries aim to increase their bilateral trade volume to $20 billion in the near future.

Vietnam currently has 229 ongoing projects in Cambodia, totaling over $2.94 billion, and ranks among the top five foreign investors in this neighboring country. Vietnamese companies have played a significant role in promoting Cambodia’s economic growth and have also contributed to job creation for the Cambodian population along with social initiatives.

Tourism cooperation is also flourishing. In 2025, nearly 700,000 Cambodians traveled to Vietnam, while over 1.22 million Vietnamese tourists visited Cambodia, making Vietnam the largest source of international tourists to Cambodia.

Collaboration in the fields of education, transportation, culture, health, and telecommunications continues to develop, parallel to the rise in exchanges between the populations, especially among the youth. These interactions are building strong social foundations for bilateral friendship.

Promoting relations in a new phase of development The visit by this high-ranking CPV official marks his first overseas trip since the 14th National Party Congress and comes shortly after Vietnam solidified its key leadership positions for the 2026-2031 term. This trip underscores Vietnam’s firm commitment and high priority to enhancing traditional friendship and cooperation with Cambodia.

According to Nguyễn Mạnh Cường, a member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tran Cam Tu’s ongoing official visit follows the highly successful state visits by the Party’s General Secretary, Tran Cam Tu, to Laos and Cambodia in February 2026. It clearly demonstrates the continuity and coherence in the implementation of the CPV’s foreign policy.

This visit not only reflects the continuity of foreign policy but also translates high-level commitments into concrete actions, injecting a new dynamic into the cooperation between Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Given the continuously evolving, complex, and unpredictable regional and global situation, strengthening ties between these three countries is essential as they all move towards development, modernization, and deep international integration, requiring close coordination to seize opportunities, manage risks, and promote development, Nguyễn Mạnh Cường stated.

As a result, Tran Cam Tu’s visits to Laos and Cambodia are not only diplomatically significant but also mark an important milestone, contributing to defining a new direction for Vietnam – Laos and Vietnam – Cambodia relations in the years to come.

During this visit, the two parties are expected to review and discuss the implementation of agreements reached during recent high-level meetings, focusing on practical and people-oriented cooperation in areas such as connectivity infrastructure, cross-border trade, education, and digital transformation.

VNA/CVN