Prime Minister Hun Manet’s Visit to Vietnam: Creating New Momentum for Vietnam-Cambodia Relations

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Strengthening political trust, expanding strategic cooperation

Speaking with Nhan Dan Newspaper, Uch Leang, Acting Director of the Department of Asian, African and Middle Eastern Studies under the Institute of International Relations of the Royal Academy of Cambodia and President of the Cambodian Alumni Association of Vietnam, stated that Prime Minister Hun Manet’s official visit to Vietnam and participation in AFF 2026 carries special significance not only for Cambodia-Vietnam relations but also for ASEAN’s regional cooperation and integration process, particularly at a time when the global and regional landscape is undergoing profound changes.

Uch Leang, Acting Director of the Department of Asian, African and Middle Eastern Studies under the Institute of International Relations of the Royal Academy of Cambodia and President of the Cambodian Alumni Association of Vietnam. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

According to him, the visit demonstrates Cambodia’s high regard for the good-neighborly relationship, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainable partnership with Vietnam. It provides an opportunity for the senior leaders of the two countries to further strengthen political trust, exchange views on strategic cooperation directions, and promote the effective implementation of existing agreements in key areas such as economy, trade, investment, defense, security, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

As the two countries move toward commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, the visit will help generate new momentum for advancing Vietnam-Cambodia relations in a more substantive, effective, and comprehensive manner.

Sharing the same assessment, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) quoted Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu as saying that the visit takes place at a time when bilateral relations continue to be consolidated and strengthened across all sectors. Delegation exchanges and high-level contacts have remained active, while economic, trade, and investment cooperation continues to be a bright spot in bilateral ties.

According to Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu, bilateral trade reached more than USD 5 billion in the first four months of 2026, an increase of 8 percent compared to the same period last year. Vietnam is currently Cambodia’s third-largest trading partner and its second-largest export market. Vietnam also has 223 valid investment projects in Cambodia with a total registered capital of nearly USD 3 billion.

In addition, defense and security cooperation has continued to be maintained effectively, while people-to-people exchanges, cultural cooperation, and tourism have expanded steadily, helping to strengthen the social foundation of friendship between the two countries.

According to experts, the outcomes of this visit are expected to provide additional momentum for Vietnam-Cambodia relations to continue developing in a deeper, more substantive, and more effective direction in the new period.

Affirming commitment to building a resilient ASEAN

According to the agenda, Prime Minister Hun Manet will attend and deliver remarks at AFF 2026. Scholar Uch Leang noted that the Prime Minister’s participation demonstrates Cambodia’s strong commitment to the process of building an ASEAN Community that is united, resilient, and sustainably developed. It also provides an opportunity for Cambodia to share its views and contribute to discussions on strategic issues shaping the region’s future, including digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) governance, energy security, green growth, sustainable development, and enhancing resilience in the face of emerging challenges.

According to the Cambodian researcher, Prime Minister Hun Manet’s participation helps strengthen ASEAN’s spirit of solidarity, consensus, and centrality. It reflects Cambodia’s determination to work alongside fellow member states to promote dialogue, enhance cooperation, and maintain a peaceful and stable environment at a time when the region is being affected by strategic competition among major powers, non-traditional security challenges, and fluctuations in the global economy.

He noted that Cambodia’s Pentagonal Strategy - Phase I and ASEAN’s development orientation share many common features. Both place people at the center of development, aim for sustainable growth, seek to improve the quality of human resources, promote digital transformation, ensure energy security, strengthen resilience to climate change, and respond effectively to emerging challenges.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu. (Photo: VNA)

Cambodia’s priorities in human resource development, economic modernization, improved national governance, green transition, and digital transformation are also aligned with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and the theme of the third ASEAN Future Forum: “Shaping Our Future Together: Peace, Prosperity and People-Centred.”

Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu assessed that the ASEAN Future Forum has become an open, multidimensional, and inclusive platform for dialogue, contributing ideas to ASEAN’s long-term strategic vision. AFF 2026 will focus discussions on emerging issues such as AI governance, energy security, and sustainable development.

According to the Ambassador, Prime Minister Hun Manet’s participation will contribute to the success of the Forum while demonstrating Cambodia’s support for initiatives launched by Vietnam to promote dialogue, cooperation, and the building of a cohesive and resilient ASEAN.

Observers noted that, at a time when the region is facing numerous challenges arising from strategic competition among major powers, technological transformation, climate change, and non-traditional security issues, Prime Minister Hun Manet’s visit to Vietnam conveys a message of the determination of both Vietnam and Cambodia to contribute jointly to peace, stability, cooperation, and sustainable development in ASEAN.

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