Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol on Thursday on the sidelines the 29th Future of Asia Forum in Tokyo, Japan, during which the former insisted on Hanoi's preference for riparian countries' interests to be ensured in relation to the Funan Techo Canal project.

Deputy PM Khai reiterated Vietnam's commitment to respecting Cambodia's legitimate interests in national development, including the Funan Techo Canal project, based on the longstanding bilateral friendship relations between the two countries and relevant regulations outlined by the Mekong River Commission (MRC), according to the Vietnam Government Portal.

In the same vein, the Deputy PM expressed hope that the Cambodian side would maintain close coordination with Vietnam and the MRC in sharing information about the project and evaluating its impacts on water resources and the ecological environment of the Mekong River basin.

Such collaborative effort aims to safeguard the shared interests of the riverine countries and their people.

In recent times, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Cambodia to furnish detailed information about the canal project and to collaborate in assessing its potential environmental impacts.

The Cambodian mass media have continuously run news reports regarding the canal project, showing Cambodian leaders’ determination to implement the project that they said will benefit not only people in Cambodia but also those in other countries.

In March, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet affirmed that the Funan Techo Canal would benefit about 1.6 million people living along the waterway and create many other benefits for national development.

The canal is expected to be 180km long, connecting the Phnom Penh river port with the Gulf of Thailand, southwest of Cambodia.

As per its design, this canal will be 100 meters wide upstream, 80 meters wide downstream, and 5.4 meters deep upon completion.

This waterway facility will run through the Cambodian provinces of Kandal, Takeo, Kampot, and Kep.

The project will be implemented by Chinese contractors under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) method at an estimated cost of about US$1.7 billion, Hun Manet said recently.

Construction is expected to start in late 2024 and complete after four years.

However, in a May 16 speech, Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, who was the country’s prime minister, suggested that the Cambodian government begin construction of the canal as soon as possible, according to the Phnom Penh Post.  

During the meeting in Tokyo, Deputy PM Khai expressed his pleasure at the stable development of cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia in recent times, noting that economic cooperation has been a highlight, with trade turnover experiencing remarkable growth in the first quarter.

He emphasized that the spirit of solidarity, attachment, and mutual sacrifice is an invaluable asset between the two nations.

Deputy PM Chanthol extended his warm congratulations to President To Lam and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man on their recent election to new positions by the Vietnamese National Assembly.

Chanthol asserted that to achieve the goal of increasing trade turnover to $20 billion, the two countries need to further strengthen their economic, trade, and investment relations.

He also mentioned that the Cambodian government encourages Vietnamese businesses to invest more in Cambodia.

The two deputy prime ministers agreed to promote visits and interactions between high-level leaders of both countries, including high-level meetings between the two Parties, and to continue effectively implementing bilateral agreements and cooperation mechanisms.

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