Vietnam and Cambodia will strengthen co-operation in order to achieve 100,000 hectares of rubber trees in Cambodia by 2012.

The two countries reached the agreement during a recent visit to Cambodia by Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat which concluded on September 22.

During his three-day stay in Cambodia, Minister Phat had a working session with Cambodian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Chan Sarun, who pledged that Cambodia would create the most favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to speed up their rubber planting.

After the talks, the two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the two ministries’ co-operation in rubber planting in Cambodia. Under the MoU, Cambodia and Vietnam will create a favourable environment for rubber growing and processing in the country, especially in technological transfer, transport of materials and provision of equipment.

Minister Phat met Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss measures to strengthen co-operation on developing agriculture, forestry and aquaculture.

He also visited and examined the implementation of rubber planting projects in Kompong Thom province. (VNA)