King Norodom Sihamoni (right) and CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. AKP
His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen have sent congratulations to Nguyen Phu Trong on his re-election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).
The King’s message dated February 1 said: “On behalf of the Kingdom’s people and myself, I am pleased to congratulate Your Excellency Nguyen Phu Trong on your selection as General Secretary of the Central Committee by the CPV’s 13th National Congress on January 31.”
“I firmly believe that under the wise leadership of Your Excellency, there will be development and progress in all areas while maintaining an important role in the region and the world. I hope that the two nations, Cambodia and Vietnam, will have closer ties and continue to maintain peace, stability, cooperation and better national development,” the King wrote.
Hun Sen expressed confidence that under Trong’s leadership, the CPV would successfully implement all programmes approved by the National Congress and transform Vietnam into a strong nation with equality and democracy, according to a February 3 press release describing a telephone conversation in which both leaders praised their long-standing historical relationship.
As president of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), Hun Sen lauded the many great achievements in socio-economic development and the maintenance of peace, stability and prosperity resulting from the CPV’s vision and efforts.
Trong noted with great satisfaction the growth of partnership and close cooperation in all sectors between the ruling parties, saying the partnership has continued to bring mutual benefits to the people of both countries.
The leaders expressed their deep gratitude for supporting each other during the national liberation and nation-building process and reaffirmed their strong commitment to enhancing bilateral relations and the timely implementation of all agreements for mutual benefit of their countries, the region and the world.
Kin Phea, director of the Royal Academy of Cambodia’s International Relations Institute, said the congratulatory messages reflected the positive overall relationship between the countries despite the existence of minor disagreements.
“If we look at agreements and declarations made by the two countries, we see a traditional relationship as good neighbours. Although there have been slight misunderstandings regarding border issues, the general relations between the two countries are those of a good, neighbourly relationship,” he said.
Trong visited Cambodia in February 2019, signing five cooperative agreements and joining the Cambodian government to issue a statement wherein the two nations thanked each other for their past and continuing mutual support.
