Vietnam’s Communist Party has urged Hun Sen, president of Cambodia’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party and chairman of the Senate, to strengthen party-to-party cooperation and foster closer engagement among younger generations.

According to Chea Thyrith, spokesman for the Cambodian People’s Party and the Senate, Hun Sen met Communist Party general secretary To Lam on September 1 at the party’s headquarters in Hanoi.

Hun Sen visited Vietnam from September 1 to 2 for a two-day trip to attend celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s independence. During the trip, he also held talks with National Assembly chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Chea Thyrith said To Lam encouraged the two countries to continue party-level exchanges, including reciprocal visits and cooperation between officials.

Hun Sen praised Vietnam’s August Revolution of 1945, describing it as a historic moment not only for Vietnam but also for independence movements across the region and beyond.

He also highlighted the need to expand bilateral relations, particularly in trade, the economy, and military cooperation, noting that ties between the two countries have deepened in recent years.

But not all observers view the relationship positively. Critics argue that Cambodia has gained little benefit from its partnership with Vietnam. They say Hanoi has repeatedly used high-level meetings to press Phnom Penh to ease the status of Vietnamese nationals living illegally in Cambodia, an issue that has persisted from Hun Sen’s long premiership into the current leadership of Hun Manet.

The same sources contend that Vietnam has consistently been the main beneficiary of the relationship. They point to the three-country development triangle involving Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos, which covers 13 provinces, and argue that Vietnam has reaped disproportionate advantages, including from Cambodian provinces included in the scheme.