Viet Nam National Assembly and the Thai Senate have agreed to promote their further co-operation in the field of diplomacy, particularly the exchange of visits between members of parliamentary friendship groups.
The agreement was reached during talks in the capital city yesterday between Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and President of the Thai Senate Teeradej Meepien.

Hung expressed his confidence the visit would raise the relationships between Vietnamese and Thai people to a higher level and between the Assembly and the Senate in particular.

Hung hoped the Thai government and people would soon overcome consequences of the recent natural disaster to continue to develop the country.

He took the occasion to express thanks to the Thai King, Parliament, Government, people and Teeradej himself for facilitating conditions for Vietnamese in Thailand to live and work there.

Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung asked the two countries to step up their co-operation in all domains, including economics, trade, investment, culture and society as well as judicial activities.

Relating to regional and international co-operation, Hung wanted both countries to co-ordinate with each other in the United Nations, the Non-aligned Movement, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the ASEAN Europe Meeting, the ASEAN Pacific Economic Co-operation, the East Asia Summit, the Great Mekong Sub-region and the implementation of the Declaration of Conduct to help ensure peace and stability in the East Sea and others.

Teeradej reiterated his country's commitment to supporting and facilitating conditions for overseas Vietnamese to live, work and study in Thailand.

He said his visit to Viet Nam this time would further tighten the relationship between the Senate and the Assembly and the friendship between the two nations.

After the talks, Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung gave a reception in honour of Teeradej and his entourage.

Also yesterday, State President Truong Tan Sang received Thailand's visiting President of the Senate Teeradej Meepien in Ha Noi.

Sang expressed his delight at the growing multi-faceted cooperation since the two countries established diplomatic ties 35 years ago, adding that the two sides needed to increase Viet Nam-Thailand friendship and cooperation.

He also expressed his pleasure at the countries' coordination at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the cooperative economic mechanisms in the region and sub-regions such as the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, the East-West Economic Corridor and the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

The State leader said he hoped the two sides will continue working closely to realise ASEAN goals and build a strong ASEAN community.

President Meepien spoke highly of Viet Nam's role in the ASEAN community, adding that he believed the ASEAN community will be increasingly prosperous as cooperation increased among member countries.

Showing optimism for outcomes from the two countries' trade and investment cooperation, Meepien said Viet Nam and Thailand will enhance cooperation in tourism, considering it a practical way to mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

At a reception for Meepien on the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed delight at the growing cooperation between the two countries, especially in economics and trade. In the first eight months of this year, two-way export turnover reached US$5.46 billion.

Viet Nam will continue to create favourable conditions for Thai businesses to invest in Viet Nam and is ready to cooperate with Thailand in East-West Economic corridor projects and to promote bilateral connectivity, in the fields of transport, customs and tourism, Phuc said.

Phuc hoped Thailand would create favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to live and do business in the country, for the development of Thailand and for strong bilateral relations.

Meepien also expressed his thanks to the Vietnamese Government and Viet Nam Red Cross for assisting the Thai Government and people in overcoming recent major floods.

VNS