The agreement was reached during the talks held in Ha Noi on Oct. 23 between Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and the visiting Cambodian Deputy PM-cum-Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong.

Deputy PM Khiem spoke highly of the first visit to Viet Nam by his counterpart in his capacity as deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He said he believed that the visit would make great contributions to consolidating and boosting the current strong relationship between Viet Nam and Cambodia.

The Cambodian deputy PM praised the economic, political and diplomatic achievements that Viet Nam has made during the renewal process. He expressed his belief that Viet Nam would successfully organise the 14th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting next month.

During the talks, the two sides informed each other of the situations of their respective countries and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

They expressed their delight at the development of the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Cambodia. They were unanimous in furthering their close cooperation so as to bring more practical benefits to their people, referring to the upcoming 8th session of the Viet Nam-Cambodia Joint Committee on economy, culture, science and technology cooperation which will take place in the ancient city of Hue in Viet Nam.

The two sides highly appreciated the significance of the inauguration of a marker at the Moc Bai-Ba Vet international border gate on Sept. 27, 2006 as witnessed by Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung and Cambodian PM Hun Sen. The inauguration of the border marker, they said, demonstrated the two sides' determination to finalise the installation of landmarks prior to 2008 as agreed.

The two deputy PMs affirmed their further cooperation according to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) framework, as well as sub-regional and regional cooperation, including the Viet Nam-Cambodia-Laos Development Triangle, cooperation between Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam, the Greater Mekong Sub-region, and the Asia-Europe Meeting.

They also agreed to increase their co-ordination in the upcoming international forums, such as the ASEAN-China Summit in China and the ASEAN summit in Cebu in the Philippines.(VNA)