Phnom Penh (FN), May. 16 – Cambodian Senate President, Samdech Techo Hun Sen stated that leaders of all generations in Viet Nam have never forgotten the contributions of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, who assisted in the liberation of southern Viet Nam and the attainment of Vietnamese unity.

The senate president spoke on Thursday (May 16) in a special message.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen underscored, "Vietnamese leaders have consistently supported me, while also expressing gratitude for Cambodia's role in aiding Viet Nam's liberation of southern Viet Nam and fostering cooperation."

“With memories inscribed on both sides, Viet Nam supports Cambodia on certain issues, and Cambodia reciprocates by assisting Viet Nam on various matters. These sentiments have been echoed by the Presidents or Prime Ministers of Viet Nam throughout generations, who never fail to acknowledge the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk's assistance to Viet Nam during that period. Additionally, the Cambodian people aided Viet Nam by providing food and medicine at the border until the United States dropped bombs on Cambodian territory," Samdech Techo further underscored.

Samdech Techo underscored that these actions were aimed at aiding each other in liberating the country from French colonization and imperialist invasion.

It should be informed that Cambodia and Viet Nam share a contiguous border spanning more than 1,270 kilometres, along with the same Mekong River. The relationship between the two countries is deeply rooted in historical, geographical, and political ties. Official diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Viet Nam were established on 24 June 1967.

Following the end of the French colonial period, two significant historical events shaped the relationship between the two nations. Cambodia's support for Viet Nam's unification and Viet Nam's assistance in liberating the Cambodian people from the Khmer Rouge regime.

On 21 July 1954, an agreement was signed at the Geneva Conference to end the Indochina War, granting independence to Viet Nam. However, Viet Nam was left divided, with reunification scheduled after a national election in 1956. This plan was rejected by South Viet Nam and its allies, leading to a war between North Vietnam, supported by the communist bloc, and South Viet Nam, backed by US troops.

To assist Viet Nam, Cambodia shifted its neutral stance, allowing the governments of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam (North Viet Nam) and the Provisional Government of South Viet Nam to utilise Cambodian territory along the border for refuge from the wreckage of South Viet Nam and its allies. Cambodia provided food and permitted North Viet Nam to use the port of Sihanoukville and National Road 4, among other relevant national roads, for transporting weapons and establishing bases for anti-South Vietnamese resistance supported by the United States. This contributed to the eventual reunification of Viet Nam as the "Socialist Republic of Viet Nam," a status it holds to this day.

As a consequence of the sacrifices made to aid Viet Nam, the United States found a pretext to drop bombs on Cambodia, resulting in the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of Cambodians and plunging the country into crises and disasters.
=FRESH NEWS