Deputy PM co-chairs Vietnam-Cambodia committee meeting

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh

Both sides will review the implementation of cooperation agreements reached at the previous meeting and discuss measures to boost comprehensive cooperation in 2014.

They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Relations between Vietnam and Cambodia have developed well in recent times. The Prime Ministers of the two countries made reciprocal visits in 2013.

Two-way trade last year reached US$3.5 billion, and the figure is expected to rise to US$5 billion by 2015.

Vietnam is Cambodia’s third largest trade partner. Its exports include petrol, steel, garments, agricultural machinery, chemicals, and fertilisers. Its key imports are rubber latex, wood and wood products, and tobacco.

As of 2013 Vietnam had 127 projects totalling US$3 billion in Cambodia, ranking it the fifth largest foreign investor in the country.

Both sides signed 10 cooperation agreements during Hun Sen’s Vietnam visit in December 2013, and are preparing to sign an agreement on investment protection and encouragement.