Vietnam, Thailand move towards strategic partnership

 
Talks were held between visiting General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)
Nguyen Phu Trong and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in Bangkok on June 25.

PM Yingluck spoke highly of Trong’s visit, the first of its kind since former Party General Secretary Do Muoi’s visit 20 years ago which is taking place as the relationship between the two countries is being upgraded to a strategic partnership.

Party leader Trong praised Thailand’s position and role in the region and the world, saying that Vietnam always attaches great importance to developing friendship and all-round cooperation with Thailand.

He extended his best regards and wishes for good health to King Bhumibol Adulyadej who is being treated in hospital.

The two leaders expressed their delight at the fine development of bilateral relations over the past 40 years, especially in politics, economics and trade.

Last year’s two-way trade between Vietnam and Thailand reached more than US$ 8.6 billion.

By February 2013, Thailand has had about 300 valid direct investment projects in Vietnam with total capitalization of US$6.12 billion, ranking 10th among 99 countries and territories investing in the country.

Both leaders applauded the important role of the business community in expanding and increasing the efficiency of economic, trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand.

They concurred to establish a strategic partnership between Vietnam and Thailand with five main pillars: political relations; defence and security cooperation; economic cooperation; socio-cultural cooperation; and regional and international cooperation.

Host and guest agreed to assign relevant agencies to work together on devising an action plan and a detailed roadmap for the early signing of the strategic partnership by the two Prime Ministers at a joint cabinet meeting slated for October in Thailand.

They consented to intensify the regular exchange of all-level delegations in the future to strengthen their friendship and mutual understanding, and share experiences in leadership and State management.

Promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two ruling Parties and legislatures is the most important political foundation for developing the two countries’ relations, they said.

Trong and Yingluck underlined the need to expand and strengthen people-to-people exchanges in a practical and effective manner, particularly between the two countries’ younger generations.

The two sides are committed to enhancing economic cooperation and increasing bilateral trade by 20 percent annually towards reaching the US$15 billion target.

They were keen to encourage the early signing and implementation of a cooperation agreement on labour affairs under which Thailand will receive Vietnamese workers, especially in building infrastructure facilities and fostering transport links along the East-West Corridor.

Vietnam pledges to offer favourable conditions for Thai investors and encourages them to invest in the support industry, petro-chemistry, and oil and gas exploration and exploitation.

During the talks, the two sides informed one another of each country’s situation, discussed orientations and measures to step up their cooperation, and compared notes on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

They suggested Vietnam, Thailand and other ASEAN member should continue reinforcing solidarity and cooperation to maintain the central role of the regional bloc in shaping regional security structure and successfully building an ASEAN Community by 2015 as a contribution to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

They expressed concern over the recent developments in the East Sea and said that concerned parties should solve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) and the Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the East Sea (DOC), and ASEAN’s Six-Point Statement.

They agreed to soon build a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) with the aim of ensuring peace, security and maritime safety and freedom in the East Sea.

Trong invited Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to visit Vietnam again at an appropriate time and his invitation was accepted.

At a press briefing after their talks, the two leaders announced the outcomes of the meeting.

In her speech, the Thai Government leader highlighted the meaning and importance of Trong’s visit as well as the establishment of the strategic partnership between the two nations. In response, the Vietnamese leader gave a brief review of the friendship and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Thailand.

He said the announcement of the strategic partnership is of great importance, representing a historic landmark in the relationship between the two Southeast Asian nations and adding fresh impetus to deepening bilateral ties for mutual benefits and for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

The same day, PM Yingluck Shinawatra hosted a banquet in honour of the Vietnamese Party Chief and his entourage.

Prior to the welcome ceremony given by the Thai PM, Trong met with leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party (PTP) Jarupong Ruangsuwan after his arrival in Bangkok.

The PTP leader briefed Trong on the history and development of his party as well as its role in Thailand’s development.

He said he believed that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people will reap greater achievements in the country’s renewal, modernisation and industrialization process.

Trong expressed his pleasure at Thailand’s positive developments over the years, including significant contributions made by the PTP.

He reiterated the CPV’s policy of developing and expanding relations with regional and international political parties on the basis of ensuring national interests, independence and self-reliance for peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

The two party leaders agreed to boost delegation exchange between the TPT and CPV, as well as share experiences in national leadership and management.

On the occasion, Trong also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand and talked with the Vietnamese community.

The Party Chief said he hopes that the Vietnamese community in Thailand, including the embassy’s staff, overseas Vietnamese and students will make more contributions to developing the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand.