VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam and Thailand agreed to strive for two-way trade turnover of US$15 billion by 2020 at the first session of the Viet Nam-Thailand Joint Commission on Bilateral Co-operation in Bangkok yesterday, Nov 5.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (left) meets with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand. — XINHUA/VNA Photo

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Thai Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul chaired the meeting, in which the two sides discussed bilateral co-operation in politics, trade, investment, transport, agro-forestry and fisheries, culture, education, tourism and labour.

They agreed to develop the strategic partnership established in June, to maintain exchanges of visits by high-ranking officials and to promote people-to-people exchanges with the aim of bolstering friendship and mutual understanding.

The two sides also planned to entrust relevant agencies to study measures that could boost agro-forestry and fishery co-operation and to increase co-ordination on issues relating to fishermen and vessels encroaching on the water areas of each country.

The two ministries agreed to approve the Viet Nam-Thailand Action Programme for 2014-18, which will be signed at the upcoming third joint cabinet meeting between Viet Nam and Thailand.

They pledged to continue implementing the national defense co-operation agreement signed between the two countries last September and the joint declaration on a Thailand-Viet Nam Security Vision for the 2012-16 period.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides agreed to co-operate for peace, stability and security in the region.

The two sides stressed the importance of dealing with disputes by peaceful measures in line with international laws, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). They promised to co-operate to promote the signing of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The second session of the joint commission will be held in 2014.

On the same day, Minh met Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. He thanked the Thai government and people for supporting the Vietnamese community in Thailand.

The Thai PM said the first session of the joint commission would foster the strategic partnership between the two countries. She hoped they would co-operate more to increase exchanges of commodities.

Vietnam strengthens ties with Egypt

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has affirmed that Vietnam highly values the role of Egypt in the region and the world, and attaches much importance to developing all-around ties with the country.

During the seventh regular political consultation between the two foreign ministries in Hanoi on November 4, FM Minh told Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Ahmed Ismail that in the future the two sides should exert a greater effort to beef up bilateral relations to meet the potential and desire of both peoples.

He proposed that the two sides should exchanges of delegations at all levels and meetings between localities and businesses of both countries, while speeding up the implementation of bilateral cooperation agreements, practically preparing for the fifth meeting of the Vietnam-Egypt Joint Committee scheduled for 2014 in Hanoi.

Minh also underlined the need to hasten negotiations and the signing of a number of cooperation agreements in banking, insurance, finance, information and communications, thus completing a legal framework for the bilateral cooperation.

He also praised Ahmed Ismail’s participation in the economic cooperation forum between Vietnam and the Middle East-North Africa, describing the attendance as a positive contribution to the success of the event.

For his part, Ahmed Ismail spoke highly of the achievements that Vietnam has gained during its national construction. He lauded Vietnam’s initiative to organise the economic forum with Middle East-North African partners, which has created a breakthrough in multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and those countries.

On the occasion, Ahmed Ismail informed the Vietnamese side of Egypt’s decision to recognise the full market economy of Vietnam.

During the consultations, the two sides confirmed that they will continue to work closely to hold activities to mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Egypt diplomatic ties.

They reached a consensus on direction and methods to foster the bilateral ties in the future, especially in promising areas like trade, oil and gas, telecommunications, agriculture, tourism, aquaculture, and education and training.

They also discussed many international and regional matters of mutual concern.

During his stay in Vietnam, Ahmed Ismail also held working sessions with leaders of Ministries of Industry and Trade and Agriculture and Rural Development.

Source: VNS/VNa