Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his spouse came to the airport to greet the Vietnamese leader and his spouse, who were also welcomed with a 21-gun salute – a special ceremony showing the importance Thailand attaches to the visit by the President of Vietnam, a leading partner of Thailand in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Mekong cooperation framework.

During the trip from November 16 to 19, President Phuc and his spouse are scheduled to meet the King and Queen of Thailand, hold talks with the Thai PM and witness the signing of some cooperation documents, have meetings with other leaders of Thailand, and receive representatives of some friendship organisations and large enterprises.

On this occasion, he will also take part in a Vietnam - Thailand business forum and several trade and investment promotion activities between the two countries.

As part of the 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, President Phuc will attend the CEO Summit, important sessions of the event, and bilateral meetings with APEC leaders and guests.

The Vietnamese delegation will also engage in all major activities of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week and meet with important partners and big businesses in the region.

President’s trip makes headlines in Thailand

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to Thailand and his attendance at the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting from November 16-19 has attracted widespread media coverage in the country.

Both national television and radio channels of Thailand on November 15 covered the event, saying this is the first visit to Thailand by a key Vietnamese leader after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The visit affirms the resolve to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation between the two countries, for common prosperity.

The channels reviewed marked achievements in bilateral cooperation since the establishment of Vietnam-Thailand diplomatic ties 46 years ago, especially the official visit to Thailand by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2013, during which the two sides agreed to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership.

The local media described Phuc’s visit as an opportunity for the two countries to seek measures to enhance cooperation across spheres, from politics-diplomacy to national defence-security, economy, trade and investment, as well as coordination at regional and international forums.

With their closest ever ties, Vietnam and Thailand will further cooperate in the spirit of friendship, solidarity and unity to maintain peace, stability and prosperous development in the two countries and the region at large./. VNA