Col. Tran Van Thong, deputy head of the liaison board and a member of the Standing Board of the Central Committee of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association, outlined the priorities in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency ahead of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's official visit to Cambodia.
Thong said the visit would help consolidate political trust, increase high-level exchanges and put into practice understandings reached by the two countries' senior leaders. Vietnam gives high priority to relations with Cambodia, he said, while political, defence and security ties have strengthened. Economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation has also expanded, along with exchanges in education, culture, healthcare and between the two peoples.
During Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet's official visit to Vietnam and attendance at the third ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi on June 8 and 9, the two governments discussed improving bilateral connectivity. Thong said the upcoming visit would support more substantive cooperation focused on the interests of people and businesses.
Trade target and three priorities
Bilateral trade reached about $11.33 billion in 2025, up 11.7% from a year earlier. In the first eight months of 2026, it stood at $8.67 billion, an annual increase of 8.3%. The figure is expected to reach $13 billion for the full year, while the two countries are working towards $20 billion in the coming years.
The first priority is stronger transport and logistics links, including cross-border routes, border gates and logistics centres. Opening new border gates and upgrading cross-border transport infrastructure could reduce transport costs and expand opportunities for businesses.
The second is to facilitate border trade. Vietnam and Cambodia share a 1,137-kilometre border with more than 40 international, main and auxiliary border gates. About 70% of bilateral trade takes place through border areas. Measures discussed include reforming immigration and import-export procedures, expanding electronic customs clearance, and developing warehouses, cold chains, digital payments and border economic cooperation zones.
The third priority is to link production and supply chains more closely. The two sides want to move beyond trade in goods towards cooperation in production, processing, logistics and distribution, creating complementary value chains.
Thong also pointed to people-to-people diplomacy. In 2026, the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association plans to expand exchanges, organise business forums, continue its Nurturing Friendship programme, support social welfare activities in border areas and among disadvantaged Vietnamese-origin and Cambodian communities, and promote education about bilateral friendship among young people. It also plans to support about 100 Cambodian students.
Thong called for broader participation by businesses, intellectuals, artists, social organisations, young people and students, as well as more exchanges between border provinces. He said the Nurturing Friendship programme could help Cambodian students understand Vietnam and later become ambassadors of bilateral friendship.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
