At their meeting after a welcome ceremony on the same day, President Truong Tan Sang spoke highly of the significance of the visit, saying that it takes place when the two countries are celebrating the Friendship Year 2012 and the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

He expressed his belief that the visit will help deepen the traditional friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Cambodia, meeting the aspirations and interests of the two peoples.

Sang congratulated the Cambodian people on the achievements they have made under the reign of the King’s father Norodom Sihanouk in the past, King Norodom Sihamoni at present and the leadership of the Cambodian Royal Government, including maintained political security, high economic growth, improved living standards and the country’s increasing role in the regional and international arenas.

He expressed his wish that the Cambodian people will harvest greater achievements in the future and successfully make Cambodia a peaceful and prosperous country.

The President affirmed Viet Nam’s consistent policy of attaching importance to continuously fostering the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability with Cambodia.

King Norodom Sihamoni said he is pleased to revisit Viet Nam and witness the great achievements the country has obtained in the renewal and socio-economic development process.

He expressed his deep gratitude to the Vietnamese Party, State, Government and people for their valuable support and assistance to Cambodia in the past and at present.

He affirmed that he will follow his father, Norodom Sihanouk, and mother, Monineath Sihanouk, in consolidating and further developing the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and peoples.

Expressing pleasure at the development of the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries over the past time, President Sang and King Norodom Sihamoni agreed to strengthen the relationship for the interests of the two peoples as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

Later, the Cambodian King met with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who said that Viet Nam will do its utmost to join Cambodia’s efforts in deepening bilateral ties in all fields, especially in economics, trade, investment, education and training, culture and defence for the common prosperity of the two nations.

The PM expressed the wish to receive the King’s support for bilateral cooperation activities as well as for the land border demarcation and marker planting between the two countries so that they can complete the work on schedule and build a border line of peace, cooperation, friendship and development.

He suggested Cambodia continue its assistance to Viet Nam in searching and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who laid down their lives in Cambodia, as well as creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese to have a stable life in the country.

King Norodom Sihamoni said that Viet Nam’s comprehensive socio-economic achievements are a great encouragement for the Cambodian people in their national construction and development.

Showing his concurrence with the Vietnamese PM’s suggestions, the King affirmed that he will convey these messages to the Cambodian Royal Government.

He thanked Viet Nam for its valuable cooperation and assistance to Cambodia’s socio-economic development process, affirming that the Cambodian Royal Family will always support cooperation activities between the two Governments.

Also on September 24, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni met National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung who affirmed that the Vietnamese people will join the Cambodian people in preserving and upholding the two countries’ traditional friendship, solidarity and cooperation.

He expressed his pleasure at the fine and close cooperation between the two legislatures within the bilateral and multilateral framework, especially the recent Vietnam-Cambodia legislative friendship conference in Ho Chi Minh City.

For his part, King Norodom Sihamoni said he believes the relationship between Viet Nam and Cambodia will see fine and constant development in the future for the interests of both peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.