Vietnam keeps close watch on Vietnamese community situation in Cambodia

Vietnamese representative agencies in Cambodia will continue keeping a close watch on Cambodia’s plan of relocating floating houses, fish farming rafts and illegal floating works on the Mekong River passing through Phnom Penh and the Vietnamese community situation, and work with the Khmer – Vietnamese Association in Cambodia to support affected people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang has said.
During the ministry’s regular press conference held virtually on June 10, Hang said Vietnam has paid due attention to Cambodia’s plan which was announced on June 2 and involves works of Vietnamese Cambodians there.

Vietnam understands Cambodia’s socio-economic development, landscape and environment protection policies, she said, expressing her wish that the relocation will be carried out with a reasonable and feasible roadmap, with resettlement areas equipped with key infrastructure being provided for affected residents to help them stabilise lives and ensure their access to social welfare services, she said.

According to the spokeswoman, the Vietnamese representative agencies in collaboration with the Khmer – Vietnamese Association in Cambodia have helped Vietnamese households move to new areas in line with the Cambodian Government’s policy and they have begun settling down.  

During a bilateral meeting with Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn on June 7, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son suggested Cambodia continue dealing with the legal status of Vietnamese Cambodians, ensure their rights and access to welfare services when performing socio-economic policies, create favourable conditions for affected residents to stabilise their lives, maintain or change to other jobs, and access key services.

Earlier, on June 4, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh visited Vietnamese Cambodians in relocated areas. The Foreign Ministry’s State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia worked with Cambodia authorities and asked them to offer practical support to resettled residents, thus ensuring their legitimate rights.

Hang added that the Cambodian side took note of Vietnam’s proposals and affirmed that the Cambodian Government will continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese students, and enterprises studying and doing bussiness, and Vietnamese Cambodians stably living in the country./.