Vietnam says PM’s Myanmar trip helps mediation efforts

Vietnam has lauded Cambodia’s preliminary success in efforts toward helping Myanmar resolve its internal crisis.

Kao Kim Hourn, Minister attached to the Prime Minister, said that during a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace yesterday, Vietnam’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said he considers the Premier’s visit to Myanmar from January 7 to 8 as a success and it is very important in resolving the Myanmar crisis.

Kim Hourn said that during the meeting, Son told Mr Hun Sen that Vietnam fully supports all initiatives and works proposed by Cambodia as Asean chair.

Son also told Mr Hun Sen that during the recent visit of Vietnam’s Prime Minister to Laos, the two countries issued a joint statement supporting the visit to Myanmar.

“With regard to the Myanmar issue, Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Son said Prime Minister Hun Sen’s visit to Myanmar reflects progress being made in Asean’s efforts to solve the crisis,” Kim Hourn said. “And the efforts of the Prime Minister are to preserve the solidarity and unity between countries in Asean.”

On his Facebook page yesterday, Mr Hun Sen wrote that during the meeting, Son highly valued the progress made in all sectors in Cambodia within a short time.

“As the volume of trade between the two countries reaches $10 billion this year, Foreign Minister Son hopes that Cambodia and Vietnam will continue to strengthen economic connectivity and continue to work together to increase economic growth, especially in the fields of agriculture, industry, and other sectors,” Mr Hun Sen added.

He said Son also thanked him for his efforts toward the reopening of direct flights between the two nations, particularly the recognition of vaccination passports.

“Vietnam will do what is possible to support Cambodia to successfully host the ASEAN Summit,” Mr Hun Sen added.

He also said that Son informed him that Vietnam will continue to cooperate with Cambodia in terms of demarcation to transform the border between the two countries into a border of peace.

Mr Hun Sen said that in response, he expressed a strong belief that the volume of trade between the two countries will continue to increase to more than $10 billion.

Mr Hun Sen also reiterated that Asean has a lot of work to do besides the Myanmar issue.

“Asean is not Myanmar’s hostage but we still continue to make efforts to help Myanmar. However, there is a lot of work that Asean needs to focus on,”  said the Premier.

By Tin Sokhavuth – Khmer Times – January 21, 2022