Vietnam expects to join efforts with Cambodia to develop bilateral relations in a bid to bring practical benefits to both sides, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

PM Dung made this statement while receiving Cambodian Permanent Deputy PM Men Sam An, who doubles as President of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association (CVFA), in Hanoi on November 3.

The government leader noted with pleasure that Vietnam-Cambodia ties have grown fruitfully, especially in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economics and trade, despite the impact of the global economic crisis.

The two nations have also co-operated smoothly in maintaining security, border demarcation and marker planting, mitigating damage caused by natural disasters and facilitating co-operative relations between border provinces, he said.

PM Dung appreciated the efforts of both the CVFA and Men Sam An in beefing up their bilateral relationship, saying that the Vietnamese government will create favourable conditions for the two sides to co-operate effectively, not only at the central level, but also among local chapters.

The PM asked the two associations to increase the dissemination of information about the time-honoured friendship amongst younger generations, and step up co-ordination at international forums, particularly in ASEAN and APEC.

Regarding acts and statements made by Sam Rainsy - President of the Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), who recently uprooted six temporary poles for Marker 185 between Vietnam’s southern province of Long An and Cambodia’s Svay Rieng province - he proposed that the Cambodian government take due measures to deal with Rainsy’s acts of sabotage and not permit similar cases to occur, as they negatively affect the fine relations between the two nations.

Having expressed delight at effective co-operation in economics, trade and investment, An said the two nations need to expand co-operation into the areas of aviation, post and telecommunications and banking.

The deputy PM stated that Sam Rainsy’s recent acts destroyed a national asset and violated the laws of Cambodia , undermining its fine relationship with Vietnam .

Empowered by the President, PM Dung bestowed a Friendship Order on the Cambodian official.

The same day, Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, Truong Tan Sang, received the Cambodian guests.

Mr Sang applauded the CVFA’s collaboration with its Vietnamese counterpart and other partners from both countries to organise practical activities which have helped to beef up friendship and co-operation between their two peoples.

The Party official said he hoped that the two associations would work together to hold more such activities in future for the sake of Vietnam-Cambodia relations.

Also on November 3, the Cambodian delegates worked with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam Women’s Union .

VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong took this occasion to present the union’s noblest award--the insignia ‘For peace and friendship between nations’ - to Men Sam An and four other members of the Cambodian delegation. (VNA)