On the morning of December 8, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet co-chaired the opening ceremony of the Tan Nam (Tay Ninh province) - Meun Chey (Prey Veng province, Cambodia) international border gate pair.
Attending the event were General Nguyen Trong Nghia - Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army; Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung; Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son and representatives of leaders of ministries, branches, localities of the two countries and a large number of people in the border area.
On this occasion, the two Prime Ministers cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Tan Nam - Meun Chey Friendship Bridge.
In recent years, good neighborly relations, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability between Vietnam and Cambodia have continued to develop strongly, substantially in all fields, especially economy - trade - investment, in which border trade is a bright spot. Bilateral trade turnover will remain at an average of about 10 billion USD/year, reaching 10.4 billion USD in the first 11 months of 2025 alone, up 12.7% over the same period in 2024.
Tay Ninh holds a strategic position on the East-West economic corridor, a gateway connecting the southern economic region with Cambodia and ASEAN. The province has more than 368 km of border with four international border gates, four main border gates and 13 secondary border gates. Implementing the policy of upgrading Tan Nam Border Gate, Tay Ninh has started the project since October 2024 on an area of 24 hectares and completed it according to international Border Gate standards; Cambodia has implemented the construction of Meun Chey Border Gate on an area of 9 hectares.
The operation of the Tan Nam - Meun Chey international border gate is a step to concretize the development vision agreed upon by the two countries' senior leaders, creating favorable conditions for trade, tourism, traffic connectivity and promoting border economic cooperation. The project is also a new driving force for the development of Tay Ninh, Prey Veng provinces and neighboring areas; contributing to promoting people-to-people exchanges, supporting security, order and effective border management.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized the importance of the event, demonstrating the spirit of trust, solidarity and close cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated that the Vietnam - Cambodia relationship has been nurtured for nearly 6 decades, overcoming many challenges and always being close and supporting each other in the struggle for independence as well as in the current development of the country.
The Prime Minister assessed that international border gates along the border always play a key role in economic connectivity, facilitating the movement of goods, business trade and travel for the people of the two countries. The Vietnam - Cambodia border is not only a route to determine territory but also a bridge for friendship, cooperation and close ties between the two peoples.
On behalf of the Government and People of Vietnam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh thanked Prime Minister Hun Manet, the Government, ministries and people of Cambodia, especially Prey Veng province, for their close coordination in the process of upgrading the border gate. He suggested that agencies of the two countries implement "5 enhancements" to operate border gates effectively, including tightening coordination in border management and crime prevention; promoting simplification of procedures, digitalizing customs clearance; connecting infrastructure and border economic space; enhancing local linkages and people-to-people exchanges; encouraging the role of businesses to expand cooperation and investment.
The Prime Minister affirmed that the inauguration of the Tan Nam - Meun Chey international border gate will create momentum to promote the completion of the boundary and markers for the unfinished border; at the same time, aiming to increase bilateral trade turnover to 20 billion USD. He believes that the border gate will become a model of modernity and intelligence, contributing to bringing prosperity to the people in the border area and strengthening the peaceful, stable and developing environment of the region.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet assessed the event as a clear demonstration of goodwill, solidarity and determination to cooperate between the two governments, opening up opportunities to enhance connectivity, trade and sustainable development for the border areas of the two countries.
