Vietnam has pledged to fund the construction of a $25 million “administrative” building inside the National Assembly compound in Phnom Penh as a gift to Cambodia, an official said during the first day of a visit by the general secretary of Vietnam’s communist party.

Nguyen Phu Trong, who was appointed to a second five-year term as general secretary last year, paid visits yesterday to King Norodom Sihamoni, Senate President Say Chhum and National Assembly President Heng Samrin as part of an official trip.

After meeting with Samrin, Uong Chu Luu, the vice president of Vietnam’s National Assembly, and Nguon Nhel, the second vice president of Cambodia’s National Assembly, inked a deal for the $25 million building, said San Sarana, an adviser to Samrin.

“For this occasion, the party, state and people of Vietnam donated to the National Assembly of Cambodia a new building for administrative work,” Sarana told reporters after the meeting. “Vietnam agreed to provide a big new building at a price of $25 million.”

“The two parties agreed to keep strengthening the solidarity and cooperation between the countries,” he added, saying that Nguyen, the general secretary, also “praised the good friendship” between Cambodia and Vietnam and described both as “good neighbours”.

Sarana said the $25 million building would be large and would serve as a “souvenir” of the good relations between the two countries, but that otherwise he did not yet have details about what the building would be used for or when construction would start.

Nguyen’s visit is due to continue through Saturday. He is scheduled to inaugurate a new Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument in Sihanoukville before returning to Vietnam.