President of the Cambodian National Assembly, Heng Samrin, arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on July 20, on an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Sinh Hung.
“Cambodia wants to continue fostering traditional ties with Vietnam, for the benefit of the two people, for national peace in both countries, the region and the world,” said President of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin, at a meeting on July 20 in the City.
The President was welcomed by Le Thanh Hai, Secretary of the HCMC Party Committee.
Mr. Hai expressed his delight at the achievements made by the Cambodian people under the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party in the recent past.
He expressed his belief that Mr. Heng Samrin’s visit will further elevate the traditional relations and solidarity between the two countries.
He also thanked the Cambodian NA for their assistance in cooperation between Phnom Penh and HCMC, which according to him, has produced practical results, contributing to a strong friendship between the two countries.
Mr. Heng Samrin expressed his gratefulness to the Vietnamese people, the Party, Government and authorities at all levels in assisting Cambodia in the cause of national reconstruction and development.
The Cambodian legislator is accompanied by Cheam Yeap, Chairman of the Commission of Economy, Finance, Banking and Audit cum President of the Cambodian Group at the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA); and Chheang Vun, Chairman of the Commission of External Relations, International Cooperation, Information and Telecommunication.
Over the past years, HCMC has continued to strengthen and expand friendship and cooperation with Phnom Penh, including in projects like health care, agriculture, trade and education.
At present, HCMC businesses are investing in about 35 projects worth nearly US$200 million in Cambodia. Notably among them is the 500 bed Cho Ray-Phnom Penh hospital, which is due to go into operation in mid-2013.
Meanwhile, Cambodia’s Great Supreme Patriarch Tepvong and a Buddhist delegation paid a nine-day visit to Vietnam from July 10-19.
During their stay, Tepvong and his entourage held talks with the Vietnamese Buddhist Sangha, at which both agreed on further cooperation activities to further support the two countries’ Buddhists, people and efforts at achieving sustainable development.
The Vietnamese Party, State leaders and authorities at all levels highlighted contributions made by the Cambodian Buddhists, people and the Great Supreme Patriarch himself, in building friendship between the two nations and Buddhist Sanghas.
The Cambodian Buddhist delegation also paid courtesy visits to Vietnamese leaders and a number of central and local agency leaders.
He affirmed that the Cambodian Buddhists and people will continue exerting their utmost effort to safeguard the solidarity between the two countries’ Buddhists communities.
While in Vietnam, the Cambodian Buddhist delegation also held working sessions with the Buddhist Executive Committees in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces of Can Tho, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh and Binh Duong.
They also paid floral tributes to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and visited a number of pagodas in the country.
