(VNF) - President Tran Dai Quang sent a congratulatory message to the Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Association on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of diplomatic ties (June 24^th, 1967-2017) and the Vietnam - Cambodia and Cambodia - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017.

President Tran Dai Quang. (Source: VNA)

In his congratulatory message written on May 24^th, the President said over the past 50 years of the establishment of Vietnam-Cambodia relations, two countries have nurtured a longstanding traditional cooperation and friendship, which has been both challenged and strengthened over time. The two Parties, States and people have been working side by side in the struggle for national independence of each country in the past as well as in today’s national construction and development.

The traditional solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia have been become an invaluable, sacred and sustainable asset of the two nations, he stressed.

Meanwhile, President Quang described the Vietnam - Cambodia and Cambodia - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017 as a milestone that marks a great stride in the two countries’ special relations.

The friendship year was launched to offer a good chance for the two countries to communicate, educate and promote deeper understanding of the importance and value of the traditional solidarity and friendship and all-faceted cooperation between our countries for young people, so they would work together to preserve and further foster this relationship for it to thrive in a more stable fashion, following the motto "good neighbours, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability".

Ceaselessly intensifying the bilateral solidarity, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between two nations is not only responsibility of the two leaders, sectors from the central to grassroots level and people but also the Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Association, he said.

The President then asked leaders, relevant agencies and authorities to closely coordinate with the Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Association to organise practical activities celebrating this historical event, contributing to the success of the Vietnam - Cambodia and Cambodia - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017 as well as making efforts to solidify and promote the bilateral solidarity, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation./.

Translated by Phuong Nguyen