At the invitation of the President of Thailand's National Assembly Somsak Kiatsuranont and the President of Japan's House of Councillors Hirata Kenji, Politburo member, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation paid official visits to Thailand and Japan on December 3-8, 2012.

These visits were remarkable imprints in the Vietnamese National Assembly’s external relations in 2012.

Vietnam and Thailand are members of ASEAN and now move toward building an ASEAN Community in 2015. Vietnam is an active member with a great contribution to the development of ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and ASEAN.

For this reason, the visit to Thailand by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung aimed to create greater confidence and serve as a basis to enhance exchange, coordination and consensus between the two countries’ parliaments in particular and AIPA in general towards the common goal of building an ASEAN Community.

The visit also boosted cooperation between two countries' legislative bodies and  governments and created a premise for lifting the bilateral relations to a strategic partnership.

During the meetings, the two sides exchanged opinions on many important issues and discussed ways of building a strategic partnership between the two countries at the Thai Prime Minister’s initiative. The two sides reached a consensus to accelerate Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam-Laos transport links, facilitating cooperation in all fields within ASEAN. Vietnam agreed with Thailand’s proposal to increase cooperation to form the world’s rice production centre.

The leaders also came to consensus in some international issues of mutual concern, particularly the issue of the East Sea. Thailand affirmed that in its role as ASEAN-China coordinator, it would spare no effort to push for the full implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and an early signing of the Code of Conduct (COC).

The visit to Japan by Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung was considered an important event to strengthen the friendship and effective cooperation between the two nations. At all meetings, Japan assured that despite its political change, it still follows the policy to expand co-operation with Vietnam. The nation showed high determination to maintain and raise the effectiveness of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

In 2013, the countries will co-organise the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties. The two sides affirmed the relations between the two countries have never been as fine as presently so each side should take responsibility for elevating the strategic partnership to a new height.

In terms of economic and trade cooperation, both sides reaffirmed their efforts to implement major projects on infrastructure and high-technology industries that Japan has committed to carry out. The Japanese side also confirmed it would continue to provide large amounts of ODA to Vietnam.

The leaders discussed and shared common views and policies to settle disputes related to the East Sea through peaceful measures on the basis of principles in the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea and the DOC, to maintain peace, stability and development in the region.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and his Thai counterpart Somsak Kiatsuranont at the official welcoming ceremony.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung talks with his Thai counterpart Somsak Kiatsuranon.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung meets with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung talks with the President of the Thai Senate Nikom Wairatpanich.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung visits and plants a tree at the commemorative relic of President Ho Chi Minh in Udon Thani.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung meets overseas Vietnamese in Thailand.

President of the House of Councillors Hirata Kenji (second from left) receives National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung talks with President of the House of Councillors Hirata Kenji.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung greets Japanese Emperor Akihito.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung meets with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung receives Vietnam-Japan Special Friendship Ambassador Sugi Ryotaro to Vietnam.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met Kansai Prefecture Vietnamese Japanese Friendship Association.

VNA/VNP