Cambodian PM Hun Manet begins Vietnam trip
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet begins a state visit to Vietnam today.
The trip signals the initiation of a new era in bilateral relations, underscoring both commitment to fostering neighborly and traditional friendship and long-term cooperation. This is the first diplomatic initiative by the head of Cambodia’s new government, who has maintained a similar foreign policy strategy to that of the previous administration.
Cambodia recently unveiled the “Pentagon Strategy Phase 1”, a blueprint for socio-economic development to elevate the nation’s income in the coming years. Key areas include human resources, electricity, roads, water, and science and technology, where Vietnam has historically played a significant supportive role. According to the World Bank, Cambodia’s economy is projected to grow 5.4% in 2023 due to increased investment in infrastructure and regional trade agreements.
Both countries seek to pursue a mutually beneficial and peaceful relationship, thus the meeting will pursue enhanced connectivity for Cambodia-Vietnam relations through infrastructure projects or policies and strengthened economic ties. As Cambodia aims to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030, expect other ASEAN members to follow. Moreover, expect stronger stability within ASEAN as two main actors enhance economic, security and cultural collaboration.