Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting with his Thai counterpart Prayuth Chan-o-cha on the sidelines of the eighth Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 8) in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 15. 

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (second from left) and his Thai counterpart Prayuth Chan-o-cha (third from left) 

The two leaders expressed their delight at the development of the bilateral strategic partnership in different areas, especially in economy, trade and investment. 

They agreed to speed up the deployment of important cooperation mechanisms in 2018, especially the fourth joint cabinet meeting, the meeting of the Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, and the third meeting of the Vietnam – Thailand Joint Trade Committee. 

Both leaders consented to build roads along the East-West economic corridor and launch road and waterway connectivity projects to serve trade, transport, tourism and people-to-people exchanges among regional countries. 

PM Phuc spoke highly of Thailand’s role, initiatives and contributions within the ACMECS framework, believing that the summit will be successful with practical results. 

He thanked PM Chan-o-cha for directing the registration and granting of permits to Vietnamese workers and asked the Thai government to extend working fields for Vietnamese guest workers within the framework of the bilateral labour cooperation agreement. 

Having hailed Vietnam’s position and role in the region and ACMECS cooperation in particular, PM Chan-o-cha expressed wish to continue enhancing the bilateral partnership on the basis of increasingly heightened trust, and jointly dealing with existing problems to facilitate trade and investment ties. 

He hoped that Vietnam will offer more possible support to Thai firms which are doing business in the country. 

On the occasion, the two PMs witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank and the Enterprise Development Agency under the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, and a contract between Vietnam’s Xuan Cau Ltd Company and Thailand’s B.Grimm to develop Dau Tieng 1 and Dau Tieng 2 solar power plants in the southern province of Tay Ninh. 

The same day, PM Phuc and his spouse attended a banquet hosted by their Thai counterparts.

PM: Vietnam prioritises strengthening relations with Laos

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) shakes hands with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith 

The Party, Government and people of Vietnam always attach importance and give the highest priority to consolidating the special relationship with Laos, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

PM Phuc made the statement during a meeting with his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith on the sidelines of the eighth Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 8) in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 15.

The two PMs expressed their delight at new development steps in the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.  

With the determination to deepen bilateral ties, the two leaders agreed to work together to accelerate the full implementation of high-level agreements and the outcomes of the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee. 

They held that drastic measures are needed to address obstacles, particularly in key projects in the fields of energy, mining, and transport connectivity.

PM Phuc believed that the Lao Party, Government and people will successfully realise the goals set in the Resolution of the 10th Party Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the eight five-year social-economic development plan for 2016 -2020.

The Vietnamese leader thanked the governments of Laos and other ASEAN member nations for their commitments to backing Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 term. He also thanked Laos for its support to Vietnam’s initiatives at the UN Human Rights Council.

PM Phuc recommended the two countries continue exchanging information and work closely together in the ASEAN and at multilateral forums for peace, security and sustainable development in each country and in the region and the world as well.

PM Sisoulith said he will soon meet and have direct discussions with Vietnamese businesses operating in Laos. 

He pledged to direct Lao ministries, sectors and localities to work with their Vietnamese partners to remove difficulties and hurdles in cooperation, particularly in major projects.

PM Phuc took the occasion to thank his counterpart for accepting the invitation to attend the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi next September.

VNA