The Consistency of Vietnam’s Policy toward Cambodia.

The Consistency of Vietnam’s Policy toward Cambodia.

#opinion

Vietnam has always attached great importance to, and continuously strengthened and deepened, its relationship with the Kingdom of Cambodia. This is a consistent policy stemming from the very nature of Vietnam’s peaceful and humane foreign policy, oriented toward shared development. This consistency was clearly demonstrated by Mr. Tô Lâm General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam leading a high-level delegation on a State visit to Cambodia immediately after the 14th National Party Congress.

Having endured many brutal wars, the Vietnamese people deeply understand the value of peace, which has shaped a foreign policy mindset that takes peace, cooperation, and development as its enduring guiding principles. Vietnam steadfastly upholds the policy of refraining from the use of force, avoiding confrontation, and resolving all issues through peaceful means, based on respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the legitimate interests of all countries.

Vietnam regards relations with neighboring countries as a top priority in its foreign policy, aiming to build an environment of peace, friendship, stability, and cooperative development. This relationship is based on the foundation of “good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability.” Within this mindset, Cambodia occupies a critical position in Vietnam’s overall policy framework.

Vietnam clearly recognizes that only when Cambodia-Vietnam relations are firmly consolidated and enjoy long-term stability can the interests of each country be safeguarded and a substantive contribution be made to peace, stability, and sustainable development in Southeast Asia.

Cambodia-Vietnam relations are clearly institutionalized in the foreign policy line of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese State. Across many Party Congress terms, up to the 14th National Party Congress, Vietnam has consistently reaffirmed its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development, as well as the diversification and multilateralization of international relations. Within this framework, relations with neighboring countries—especially Cambodia and Laos are always identified as top priorities with long-term strategic significance.

High-level diplomatic activities vividly demonstrate Vietnam’s strong political commitment to Cambodia and vice versa. Both sides regularly maintain high-level visits and contacts, and places great importance on relations between the two ruling parties as the political foundation guiding the overall bilateral relationship. Under all circumstances, Cambodia and Vietnam uphold the principle of respecting each other’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; non-interference in each other’s internal affairs; and actively coordinate and support each other in the cause of national construction, protection, and development.

The consistency of Vietnam’s policy toward Cambodia is clearly reflected in practical actions. The decision by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Tô Lâm to choose Cambodia as an important destination immediately after the 14th National Party Congress carries profound political significance, affirming that Vietnam consistently values and prioritizes its relationship with Cambodia in the new stage of development.

Ahead of this visit, Vice President of the Cambodian People’s Party, Samdech Men Sam An, led a high-level delegation to Vietnam and held an important meeting with General Secretary Tô Lâm. The meeting took place in an atmosphere of friendship, sincerity, and mutual trust, reflecting the close bonds between the two ruling parties. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the strong, substantive, and effective development of Cambodia-Vietnam relations, and reaffirmed their determination to continue nurturing this special friendship, regarding it as a priceless asset to be preserved and developed for future generations.

Vietnam not only values its relationship with Cambodia in political and diplomatic terms, but also proactively deepens cooperation in a substantive manner, closely linked to the concrete interests of the peoples of both countries. Cooperation in economics, trade, investment, defense and security, education and training, culture, and people-to-people exchanges is promoted in a comprehensive and coordinated way, toward the shared goals of sustainable development, improved living standards, and the building of a peaceful, stable, and friendly border. This approach demonstrates that Vietnam regards its friendship with Cambodia not merely as a “historical legacy to be preserved,” but as an important resource for the present and future development of both countries.

In the context of rapidly evolving and increasingly complex regional and global developments, Vietnam further reaffirms its desire to deepen bilateral relations with Cambodia, while closely linking this effort with the strengthening of solidarity among Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Indochinese solidarity is not only a historical value, but also a strategic factor contributing to the maintenance of political stability, security, and sustainable development in Southeast Asia.

It can therefore be affirmed that Vietnam’s consistency in valuing and seeking to consolidate and deepen its relationship with Cambodia originates from its fundamental character as a peace-loving nation that prioritizes stability and shared development. This consistency is reflected throughout its strategic thinking, foreign policy line, and practical actions. On the foundation of long-standing traditional friendship, solidarity, and close bonds, Vietnam remains steadfast in working together with Cambodia to build good-neighborly relations, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainable partnership, for the tangible benefits of the peoples of both countries and for peace and stability in the region and the world./.

By: Mr. UCH LEANG, Acting Director of Asian, African, and Middle East Studies of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia (IRIC) and the President of the Cambodia Alumni from Vietnam Association (CAVA).

-Khmer Times-