Addressing the event, Prime Minister Pham said the opening of the new border gate creates an new gateway for trade and adds another "solid bridge of friendship" between the two nations.

He noted that Viet Nam and Cambodia, as close neighbors in the lower Mekong sub-region, have upheld nearly six decades of relations based on "good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability." Throughout history and in the present day, the two peoples have "shared sweetness and hardship," supporting each other both in the past struggle for national independence and in the current national development cause.

The Vietnamese Government leader highlighted the steady, substantive progress in bilateral ties in recent years, particularly in economic, trade and investment cooperation. Cross-border trade has been a major bright spot, contributing to maintaining two-way trade turnover at around US$10 billion annually, and around US$12 billion in 2025. International border gates, he noted, play a crucial role in linking the two economies.

Pham said the inauguration of the Tan Nam-Meun Chey border gate also reflects the trust, solidarity and close cooperation between the two Governments.

He called on both sides to further enhance their sense of responsibility in safeguarding stability, order and security along the shared borderline, while creating favorable conditions for transforming the area into a dynamic economic zone, a culturally diverse region, and a model of bilateral cooperation.

To ensure smooth and efficient operation of the new border gate, he urged ministries, agencies and local authorities of both countries to intensify collaboration in five key areas: border management; procedural simplification and digital customs modernization; infrastructure connectivity and development of a cross-border economic space; strengthened regional and local-level linkages—particularly between Tay Ninh and Prey Veng provinces; and stronger engagement of businesses and industry associations.

He expressed his hope that the new border gate will add momentum to completing the remaining 16 percent of border demarcation and marker planting. He reiterated the goal of raising bilateral trade to US$20 billion in the coming years.

In reply, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the official opening of the border gate underscores the strong, enduring cooperation between Cambodia and Viet Nam. This cooperation, he noted, continues to transform the shared border line into an area of peace, stability, development and improved livelihoods.

He expressed belief that the new international border gate and its supporting infrastructure will boost socio-economic development, enhance social welfare, and advance trade, cultural tourism and security cooperation—especially benefiting Prey Veng and Tay Ninh provinces.

Hun Manet encouraged the two sides' ministries and local administrations to collaborate in developing strategies and concrete plans to facilitate the flow of goods, services and business activities, particularly in high-potential sectors such as agriculture, industry and export-oriented processing. He also called stronger efforts to prevent and combat cross-border crime.

The opening of the border gate marks a concrete step in realizing the development vision jointly envisaged by senior leaders of both countries and creates a new strategic connectivity axis between their economies. It will facilitate trade and tourism, support the development of border logistics and transport infrastructure, and contribute to shaping a future regional transit hub linking to ASEAN through key road networks.

The border gate will also serve as a major gateway for bilateral exchanges and cooperation, generating fresh development momentum for Tay Ninh, Prey Veng and surrounding localities. It will help expand cross-border cooperation spaces, strengthen community ties, and enhance security, public order and effective border management—aligning with the aspirations of the peoples of both nations.

Bilateral trade between Viet Nam and Cambodia in recent years has been consistently maintained at an average of around US$10 billion per year. Notably, it reached US$10.4 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, up 12.7 percent year-on-year, and is expected to hit US$12 billion by the end of this year.

Tay Ninh province is a border province in the Southeastern region, holding a strategically important geo-economic and political position. Located along the East–West economic corridor, it serves as a gateway linking the southern economic region with the Kingdom of Cambodia and other ASEAN countries. The province shares more than 368 km of border with three Cambodian provinces and houses four international border gates namely Moc Bai, Xa Mat, Tan Nam and Binh Hiep, four border gates, and three border-gate economic zones including Long An, Moc Bai and Xa Mat./.