Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has affirmed that the Vietnam-Thailand relationship is at the peak of history and suggested the two countries pay more heed to cooperation in areas that benefit both sides like trade, investment and connectivity. 

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh (L) 

Vietnam and Thailand should maintain the exchange of high-level delegations, he said at a reception for outgoing Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh in Bangkok on June 1. 

Similarities and a large number of Vietnamese living in Thailand made the countries as fraternal, close neighbors, he noted.

He stressed that Thailand strongly supports Vietnam’s hosting of events in APEC Year 2017, noting that he will try his best to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting scheduled for November this year in central Da Nang city. 

He reiterated Thailand’s commitment to not using excessive force against Vietnamese fishermen and hoped that the two countries will take measures to prevent illegal fishing in the respective countries’ territorial sea.

The Thai leader also agreed on the need for the two countries to soon implement the agreement on labour assignment, firstly in the construction and fishing sectors. 

He consented to increase consultations in order to form a common perception on the sustainable use of the Mekong River water resources while closely coordinating with the Mekong River Commission in multilateral cooperation mechanisms in the sub-region like the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) and the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI). 

The PM expressed his belief that the Vietnam-Thailand relations will proper in the time ahead in a sustainable manner, in the interest of their people, the region and the world at large. 

He praised the ambassador’s contributions to deepening the bilateral ties during his tenure in Thailand.

Ambassador Thanh suggested the two countries continue to effectively realise the action programme on implementing the strategic partnership during 2014-2018, particularly in economy, trade, health care, late King Bhumibol Adulyadej's sufficiency economy philosophy, humanitarian cooperation and other areas of mutual benefits. 

VNA