Vietnam-Cambodia Defence Economic Production Exhibition 2023 opens

Attending VIDEX 2023, the Vietnamese side included Senior Lieutenant General Vu Hai San, Deputy Minister of Defence; Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai; Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang, and representatives of relevant ministries and branches.

The Cambodian side featured General Neang Phat, Secretary of State of National Defence; and Samheng Bora, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce. The opening ceremony was also attended by ambassadors and ministers of Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Singapore in Cambodia.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieu. Gen. Vu Hai San said that the exhibition is an important socio-economic and political activity between the two countries.

He said he believes the event will help promote friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two sides and create opportunities for Vietnamese and Cambodian businesses to meet and exchange, thus fostering connections and increasing the transfer and application of science and technology.

Highlighting the growing ties between Vietnam and Cambodia, he said that people-to-people diplomacy and trade relations between the two countries are considered a firm foundation for the two sides to strengthen investment cooperation and help deepen the bilateral traditional friendship.

Sen. Lieu. Gen. San affirmed that defence cooperation has been one of the important pillars in the Vietnam-Cambodia relations, noting that the two militaries have coordinated closely and effectively in overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines as well as at multilateral forums.

Meanwhile, economic, trade and investment collaboration has been continuously reinforced and boosted. Vietnam is currently the third largest trade partner of Cambodia and the biggest among ASEAN countries, he noted.

For his part, General Neang Phat, Cambodia’s Secretary of State of National Defence, underlined the significance of the exhibition in providing chances for investors of the two countries to seek partnership opportunities.

He said that the Ministries of National Defence of Cambodia and Vietnam have always taken the diplomatic relations between the two countries as an important factor in protecting the political stability, peace, and security in each country; and have paid great attention to expanding the solidarity, friendship, cooperation and good neighbourliness between the two countries, building a shared border of peace, stability, cooperation, and development while creating optimal conditions for trade exchange of people in both sides.

Within the VIDEX 2023 framework, the organising board presented gifts to policy beneficiary families in Phnom Penh. Vietnam also presented office equipment to agencies under Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence and Ministry of Commerce.

Held on the occasion of the 70th National Day of Cambodia and the founding anniversary of the Royal Cambodian Army, the exhibition will run until October 29, drawing nearly 150 Vietnamese and Cambodian units and businesses with more than 200 booths introducing technological machinery, robots, specialised drones, industrial equipment, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, plant seeds, textiles, footwear, electronics, household electrical appliances, construction materials, handicrafts, and consumer goods.

An exhibition featuring the traditional friendship between the Parties, States, people, and militaries of Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as achievements of the Vietnam People’s Army in defence and economic development has been organised.

A number of conferences will also be held, including one on promoting trade and trade connections between Vietnam and Cambodia stated for October 26, with expected participation of 150 firms, and another on strengthening logistics connectivity between the two countries stated for October 28, with 120 firms.