Cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand has been comprehensively flourishing, demonstrating the growing efficiency and importance of their strategic partnership, Prime Ministers Nguyen Tan Dung and Prayuth Chan-ocha said at their retreat talks and the joint Cabinet meeting in Bangkok on July 23.

The joint Vietnamese-Thai Cabinet meeting was the third instance and the first since the countries set up their strategic partnership in June 2013.

The two leaders informed each other of their respective countries’ development. While Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha spoke highly of the enormous achievements Vietnam has reaped during 30 years of doi moi (reform), his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung also congratulated Thailand on its development attainments and increasing stature in the region and the world.

The visiting leader stressed that Vietnam continually attaches importance to its traditional amity and comprehensive cooperation with Thailand and supports the latter’s active contributions to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Prayuth Chan-ocha voiced his willingness to closely work with Vietnam to foster bilateral relations in a result-oriented fashion.

The two PMs agreed on major cooperation orientations to intensify the efficiency of the strategic partnership.

They concurred to enhance all-level delegation exchanges; implement the action programme on implementing the Vietnam-Thailand strategic partnership between 2014 and 2018 as well as possible; optimise cooperation mechanisms such as the joint Cabinet meeting, the Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, the Foreign Minister Retreat, and the Joint Working Group on Political-Security Cooperation; and closely coordinate to organise ceremonies marking the 40 th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (1976-2016).

They also agreed to continue effectively carrying out the bilateral defence cooperation agreement; shortly establish and put a defence policy dialogue mechanism into operation between the Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister and the Standing Secretary of the Thai Defence Ministry as well as a high-ranking security dialogue mechanism between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Royal Thai Police; and push forward the negotiations on and signing of cooperation deals in these fields such as an extradition agreement.

The two sides affirmed that they will realise the commitment to not let any organisations or individuals take advantage of their respective countries’ territories to engage in sabotage activities against the other country.

The nations intend to bring their trade to 20 billion USD by 2020, given the fact that Thailand is among the top 10 foreign direct investors in and the leading ASEAN trade partner of Vietnam.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung asked Thailand to beef up its investments in areas of mutual interest, especially sea tourism, textile-garment and footwear industries, farm produce production and processing, mechanics, chemistry and material production.

Vietnam and Thailand were unanimous in strengthening collaboration in other realms like labour, culture, sports, education, aquatic products, science-technology and connectivity, including the opening of passenger transportation services along fixed routes and coastal transport cooperation among Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia.

The two sides also agreed to increase affiliations between their localities and people-to-people exchanges coordinated through the Vietnam-Thailand and Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Associations.

Discussing regional and international issues of shared concern, the PMs renewed the viewpoint made in the Statement of the Chairman of the 26 th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last April. They pledged to continue working closely and with other ASEAN nations to promote the formation of the ASEAN Community later this year while maintaining the bloc’s leadership and centrality in regional strategic matters.

They voiced concern over recent developments in the East Sea that have affected trust, peace, security and stability in the region and reiterated the importance of ensuring peace, stability as well as marine and aviation safety and freedom in the waters.

The leaders urged all parties concerned to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea; build, sustain and bolster mutual trust; exercise self-restraint and not use or threaten to use force; settle disputes through peaceful measures in compliance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; and boost dialogues and consultations to expeditiously complete a code of conduct in the waters.

Concluding the joint meeting, the PMs witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation agreements, including a Joint Statement on the third joint Vietnam-Thailand Cabinet meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on labour cooperation, an agreement on labour recruitment, an MoU on cooperation between Vietnam’s Long An province and Thailand’s Trat province and an MoU on cooperation between Vietnam’s Kon Tum province and Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province.

Following the signings, the two sides held a press conference on the official Thailand visit by PM Nguyen Tan Dung and the outcomes of the third joint Cabinet meeting, and issued a joint press communiqué.

Prime Minister busy in Thailand 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, President of the Thailand National Legislative Assembly Pornpetch Wichicholchai and attended a Vietnam-Thailand business forum on July 23 as part of his visit to the Southeast Asian country.

The PM lauded the role that the princess and the Thai Royal Family play in supporting the Vietnamese community in Thailand.

He thanked the princess for her assistance to a number of Vietnamese primary schools as well as the scientific research cooperation between the two countries. He also expressed his hope that the princess and the Royal Family would support the partnership in preserving the Mekong River water resource.

For her part, the Thai princess said that as a Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, she is willing to make contributions to the promotion of education collaboration between Thailand and Vietnam.

At a meeting with President of the Thailand National Legislative Assembly Pornpetch Wichicholchai, the PM briefed the host on the outcomes of his talks with his counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha as well as the Joint Cabinet Meeting with the signing of a joint statement as well as four agreements.

The joint statement maps out orientations and measures to comprehensively foster bilateral ties in politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, education, tourism, defence, security and people-to-people contacts, he noted.

Both sides also agreed to promote mutual support for the interest of both peoples as well as to benefit the whole ASEAN, he added.

Pornpetch Wichicholchai said he hopes the legislative bodies of both countries will jointly hold large cooperation activities to mark the 40 th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2016.

He congratulated Vietnam on successfully organising the 132 nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-32).

Speaking at the Vietnam-Thailand business forum, the PM said Vietnam highly values Thai-funded projects and pledged that the country will create all favourable conditions for Thai investors to develop stable businesses.

Vietnam is actively speeding up international integration in all fields and has set up relationship with almost all countries around the globe, he noted, adding that the country has strategic partnerships with 13 countries, including Thailand, and trade ties with over 200 countries and territories.

From 2011-2015, the country saw an average annual trade revenue rise of about 15 percent with last year’s revenue reaching 300 billion USD. It is estimated to hit 350 billion USD this year.

Thailand is now the 10 th largest investor in Vietnam with 392 projects worth nearly 7 billion USD. The country is also Vietnam’s fifth largest trade partner with about 4.4 billion USD in trade in the first five months of this year.

At the Joint Cabinet Meeting, the two sides agreed to raise trade to 20 billion USD by 2020, he said, adding that both will focus on cooperation in sea tourism, passenger transportation, garment-textile, footwear, agriculture, seafood, farm produce processing and manufacturing.

The same day, PM Nguyen Tan Dung also met with the Vietnamese community in Thailand, lauding their contributions to national construction and defence and expressing hope that they will continue joining hands with those at home for the growth of the country.

Also on July 23, the Government leader received top Thai businesses.

Vietnam-Thailand joint press communique issued

Vietnam and Thailand issued a joint press communique on the occasion of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s official visit to Thailand on July 23, which emphasised measures to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between the two countries at the dawn of the fifth decade of bilateral relations.

Following is the full text of the joint press communique:

“1. At the invitation of H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and his Spouse paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand on July 23, 2015.

2. During the visit, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung and his Spouse had an audience with Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and were warmly welcomed by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House in Bangkok on 23 July 2015. Both Prime Ministers had a bilateral meeting and co-chaired the Third Thailand – Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat, followed by the official luncheon hosted by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha. The Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam also had a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, President of the National Legislative Assembly, and delivered his remarks in a Thailand – Vietnam Business Dialogue, participated by the Thai and Vietnamese business communities.

3. On this occasion, the two Leaders witnessed the signing of 5 documents, namely: (i) Joint Statement on the Third Vietnam – Thailand Joint Cabinet Retreat; (ii) MOU on labour cooperation; (iii) Agreement on Employment of Workers; (iv) Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Friendship between Kon Tum Province, Vietnam and Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand; and (v) Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Friendship between Long An Province, Vietnam and Trat Province, Thailand.

4. During the official talks, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung and H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha informed each other of the socio-economic developments and foreign policy of each country. H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha congratulated the Government and people of Vietnam on the remarkable achievements in recent years. H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung expressed his confidence that under the leadership of the Royal Government in Thailand, the Thai people will attain greater achievements in national development, turning Thailand into a prosperous and strong nation with an important role in the region.

5. The two Leaders valued the growing development of traditional friendship between the two countries in recent years, particularly since the establishment of Strategic Partnership in 2013. Both sides expressed great satisfaction with the progress of bilateral relations and cooperation since the Second Joint Cabinet Retreat in 2012. The two sides welcomed the regular exchanges of high-level visits, the effective implementation of the Plan of Action Implementing the Thailand – Vietnam Strategic Partnership (2014 - 2018), the strengthening of political and security cooperation, the continuing expansion of trade and investment cooperation, as well as the deepening of cultural, social, and educational cooperation.

6. Both sides reiterated the importance of the high-level visits between the two countries recently, including the official visit to Thailand by H.E. Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in June 2013, the official visit by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand in November 2014 and this visit by H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; and agreed to promote exchange of visits and contacts at all levels and through all channels with a view to laying the foundation for intensified cooperation in all areas.

7. Both sides agreed on measures to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between Thailand and Vietnam at the dawn of the 5th decade of bilateral relations.

8. Both sides agreed to organize all year round activities in Thailand and Vietnam in 2016 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Thailand – Vietnam diplomatic relations, including the exchange of high – level visits, the exchange of cultural activities, and the organization of seminars to promote trade and investment.

9. Both sides agreed to strengthen and deepen bilateral cooperation stipulated in the Plan of Action Implementing the Thailand – Vietnam Strategic Partnership (2014 - 2018). They attached high importance to current bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Joint Cabinet Retreat, Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation, Foreign Ministers’ Retreat and agreed to effectively and expeditiously implement the agreements and initiatives concluded by both sides in order to broaden, deepen and increase effectiveness of bilateral cooperation. The two Prime Ministers agreed to the following: (1) set a new target for bilateral trade volume from 15 billion USD to 20 billion USD by 2020; (2) establish an informal consultation mechanism for business consultations and negotiations in each country; (3) forge a multi-modal transportation linkages, including land, sea, and air; (4) establish a Joint Working Group to Cooperate in Addressing Illegal Fishing; and (5) commence negotiations on Extradition Treaty.

10. Both sides reaffirmed their commitments not to allow any individual or organization to use the territory of one country to conduct activities against the other.

11. Both Leaders exchanged views, in a candid and trusted manner, on regional issues of mutual interest. They highly valued the cooperation and coordination between the two countries at regional forums, and agreed to continue fostering cooperation at these fora, particularly ASEAN.

12. Both sides reaffirmed the position contained in the Chairman’s Statement of the 26th ASEAN Summit. Both sides shared concerns on the situation in the South China Sea/East Sea, which has affected trust and confidence and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability as well as safety and freedom of navigation in and over – flight above the South China Sea/East Sea. Both sides emphasized the need for all parties to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the South China Sea/East Sea (DOC) in its entirety: to build, maintain and enhance mutual trust and confidence; exercise self – restraint in the conduct of activities; not resort to threat or use of force; and to resolve their differences and disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with international law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, and urged that dialogues and consultations be intensified to ensure the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea/East Sea (COC).

13. The two Leaders expressed satisfaction over the results of the visit, and shared the view that the visit had significantly contributed to promoting friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.

14. The two Leaders also welcomed the successful conclusion of the Third Thailand – Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat. Both sides agreed to maintain the dynamism in their Strategic Partnership as Thailand and Vietnam advance towards the 5th decade of bilateral ties.

15. H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, expressed his sincere thanks to H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand, to the Government and the people of Thailand for the warm hospitality and friendship accorded to the Vietnamese Delegation.”

VNA