On September 5, 2024, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, as part of cooperation between the two countries, National Economics University (NEU) and Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism successfully organized the international scientific conference “Green and Sustainable Economic Development in Vietnam and Cambodia in the New Context.”

An overview of the conference

Attending the conference from Cambodia were Hor Sarun, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Cambodia; Dy Rado, Deputy Governor of Siem Reap Province; Poch Vorleak, Director of Cambodia’s National Institute of Tourism Research; and nearly 100 scholars, researchers, policy experts, business representatives, and others.

Representing NEU were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President; Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat, Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council; Prof. Dr. To Trung Thanh, Head of the Department of Research Management; and Dr. Dao Thanh Tung, Head of the Department of International Cooperation, along with representatives of the leadership of member schools, departments, faculties, institutes, and centers, and University researchers.

Dy Rado, Deputy Governor of Siem Reap Province, delivers welcoming remarks at the conference

In his welcoming remarks, Dy Rado, Deputy Governor of Siem Reap Province, expressed his pleasure at welcoming the NEU delegation on its visit to jointly organize, with Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, the international scientific conference “Green and Sustainable Economic Development in Vietnam and Cambodia in the New Context.”

After briefly introducing the province’s culture and people, Dy Rado emphasized that Siem Reap is an important tourist destination in the Kingdom of Cambodia. To meet the need to become a tourism province that offers substantial value to domestic and international visitors, Siem Reap is eager to strengthen cooperation to improve the quality of its tourism services. He also affirmed that the international conference organized by NEU and Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism was highly significant for the province’s tourism development in the current context. The Deputy Governor of Siem Reap expressed his hope that the conference would contribute practical ideas for green and sustainable economic development in both countries in the new context. Dy Rado wished the conference every success and wished NEU’s academic community continued strong growth and further contributions to the development of both countries.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, delivers introductory remarks at the conference

In his introductory remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, welcomed the delegates and researchers from Vietnam and Cambodia attending the international conference, held for the first time in Siem Reap Province.

Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thanh Hieu noted that, like other developing countries, Vietnam and Cambodia face numerous challenges in balancing economic development and the exploitation of resources with environmental protection. Prioritizing green and sustainable economic development not only protects the environment but also improves social well-being and quality of life…

The international scientific conference “Green and Sustainable Economic Development in Vietnam and Cambodia in the New Context” provided an opportunity for researchers to exchange ideas, perspectives, research findings, experiences, and policy advice aimed at building a green economy and promoting sustainable development in both countries. The conference focused on several topics related to green and sustainable development. It also addressed the green and digital economy and issues related to ensuring sustainable development, contributing to the development of both countries.

At the conference, the Vice President also briefly introduced the number and quality of papers submitted by researchers from both countries. He noted that these were highly valuable resources for scholars and that many of the ideas could be used in teaching at educational institutions.

Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, thanked the researchers and policymakers for attending and contributing their views to the conference. He extended special wishes for good health to the leaders of the Ministry of Tourism and Siem Reap Province and thanked them for their support and assistance in ensuring the conference’s success.

Hor Sarun, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Cambodia, delivers opening remarks at the conference

In his opening remarks, Hor Sarun, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Cambodia, welcomed researchers from NEU, delegates, and guests attending the international scientific conference, held for the first time in Siem Reap.

Hor Sarun briefly outlined Cambodia’s recent achievements in developing its tourism economy. The Deputy Minister of Tourism of Cambodia also introduced the conference’s objectives: 1/ To promote cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia by strengthening exchanges of information and experience, developing bilateral cooperation projects, and establishing supportive mechanisms and policies. 2/ To provide opportunities for researchers to share ideas, research findings, experiences, and policy recommendations on building a green economy and promoting sustainable development in Vietnam and Cambodia. 3/ To propose solutions and directions for promoting development cooperation between the two countries in the areas of the green economy and sustainable development.

Hor Sarun, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Cambodia, affirmed that Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism and NEU, Vietnam, jointly organized the conference on “The Green Economy and Sustainable Development in Vietnam and Cambodia in the New Context” to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and Vietnam in the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation and the 2023-2024 Action Plan on Tourism Cooperation, promote research into strategic directions and policies for tourism development in Cambodia, and make Cambodia a dynamic, competitive, sustainable, and environmentally friendly tourist destination. With these objectives in mind, Hor Sarun expressed his hope that the conference’s outcomes would contribute to policy advice on developing the tourism economies of both countries.

Concluding his remarks, Hor Sarun wished the researchers from NEU and Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism good health, peace, success, and happiness. He wished the two countries and their peoples lasting solidarity, cooperation, and development.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, presents a commemorative gift to Hor Sarun, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Cambodia

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, presents a commemorative gift to Dy Rado, Deputy Governor of Siem Reap Province

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, presents a commemorative gift to Poch Vorleak, Director of Cambodia’s National Institute of Tourism Research

Hor Sarun, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Cambodia, presents a commemorative gift to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU

Speakers presented their ideas and research findings at the conference:

Prof. Dr. Tran Tho Dat, Chairman of the Scientific and Training Council, presents “Twin Green and Digital Growth: The Case of Vietnam and Implication for Cambodia”

Poch Vorleak, Director of Cambodia’s National Institute of Tourism Research, presents “Current State of Tourism in Cambodia”

Dr. Tran Huy Duc, NEU, presents “Green and Sustainable Tourism in Vietnam – Situation and Policy Implication for Vietnam and Cambodia”

NEU researchers and representatives of Cambodia’s private and state-owned enterprises participate in the discussion session

Additional images from the conference:

Article and photos: Department of Communications

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.