Vietnam, Thailand note stronger strategic partnership at consultation
The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and its Thai counterpart convened the sixth political consultation, saying that cooperation activities in 2016 reinforced the countries’ strategic partnership.
Thai Foreign Ministry officials at the consultation (Photo: VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) – The Vietnamese Foreign Ministryand its Thai counterpart convened the sixth political consultation in Bangkokon February 15, saying that cooperation activities in 2016 reinforced thecountries’ strategic partnership.
The two delegations, led by Deputy ForeignMinister Dang Dinh Quy and Permanent Secretary of the Thai Foreign MinistryBusaya Mathelin, discussed and agreed on a number of measures to enhancebilateral ties, including exchanging delegations and working to increase tradeto 20 billion USD by 2020.
Other measures were also devised to boostcooperation in security, defence, trade, investment, transport, labour,culture, tourism, education, and science-technology.
The officials agreed to resolve emerging issuesin a fraternal spirit and promote the realisation of an agreement on sendingVietnamese workers to Thailand in 2017.
Both sides will accelerate the opening of acoach route linking Thailand, Laos and Vietnam and a coastal route traversingThailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
At the consultation, they lauded the twocountries’ coordination at regional and international forums while exchangingviews on regional and global matters of shared concern.
They agreed to make joint efforts to strengthenthe solidarity of ASEAN and ensure the bloc’s central role in security andstrategic issues in the region. The officials also committed to promotingpeace, security and stability in the East Sea.
On this occasion, Busaya Mathelin thanked PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam for paying theirrespects to Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Meeting with Deputy Minister Quy, Thai ForeignMinister Don Pramudwinai expressed his delight at the outcomes of theconsultation, adding that he wants the two sides to bolster collaboration. Healso voiced his hope that ASEAN will have a common voice in important regionaland international issues.
At another meeting, Quy and ApisakSombutcharoennon – Director of the Centre for Strategic Studies underThailand’s Defence Ministry – shared their views about the world and regionalsituation and agreed to step up the centre’s affiliation with researchinstitutes in Vietnam.-VNA
Thailand’s government is devising policies to support and promote investment abroad, which opens up opportunities for Vietnam to attract Thai foreign direct investment (FDI).
A conference to promote trade and investment ties between Vietnam and Thailand took place in Bangkok on December 14, as part of activities marking 40 years of diplomatic relations.
Deputy Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang received a delegation of the Command of Thai Royal Air force led by Commander-in-Chief Jolm Rungswang in Hanoi on January 10.
A road in the Thai province of Udon Thani has been named Thau Chin – the name that Vietnam’s President Ho Chi Minh used when he lived in Thailand 89 years ago.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thai Foreign Ministry officials at the consultation (Photo: VNA) 
