Hun Sen Says Cambodia-Vietnam Economic Relations Must Keep Growing
Hun Sen Says Cambodia-Vietnam Economic Relations Must Keep Growing
PHNOM PENH, May 13, 2026 — Cambodia’s acting head of state Hun Sen said Cambodia and Vietnam should work toward raising bilateral trade to $20 billion in the coming years during talks with a senior Vietnamese Communist Party official in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.
Hun Sen made the remarks while meeting Trinh Van Quyet, a member of the Politburo and head of the Central Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
According to Senate spokesperson Chea Thyrith, Hun Sen described the visit as an important contribution to strengthening ties between Cambodia and Vietnam, particularly party-to-party relations.
The Vietnamese official said relations between the two countries continued to deepen through cooperation at legislative, executive and people-to-people levels, highlighting frequent high-level exchanges between Phnom Penh and Hanoi.
Both sides also discussed preparations for the 60th anniversary of Cambodia-Vietnam diplomatic relations in 2027.
Trinh Van Quyet praised bilateral cooperation along the shared border, saying both countries had maintained peace, stability and security while improving benefits for border communities.
Hun Sen welcomed the remarks and reiterated Cambodia’s support for stronger cooperation between provincial authorities along the border.
The Cambodian leader also stressed that bilateral relations could not be separated from economic, trade and investment cooperation.
He said Cambodia wanted bilateral trade to eventually reach $20 billion, noting that trade between the two countries had risen to approximately $11 billion in 2025.
Hun Sen said the target was achievable given steady annual growth in trade flows and called for continued efforts to expand commercial ties further.
The discussions also covered youth cooperation, with Hun Sen saying stronger engagement between young people from both countries would help deepen long-term relations.
The Vietnamese delegation expressed confidence that Cambodia and Vietnam could achieve the long-term bilateral trade target through continued cooperation and economic expansion.
