Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to work closely to enhance linkages between Thai and Vietnamese economies and ensure that both economies would emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Mr. Thani Thongphakdi, on 30 June 2021 co-chaired the 8th Thailand – Vietnam Political Consultation Group Meeting via videoconference with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dzung.
In the videoconference, both sides discussed ways to further advance bilateral cooperation and the “Strengthened Strategic Partnership” between Thailand and Vietnam, especially as the two countries are celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Thailand and Vietnam agreed that it would be useful for the two countries to start discussing measures, such as mutual recognition of respective vaccine certificates and facilitation of travel between the two countries in the future.
They also agreed that it would be beneficial for bilateral trade and investment for both sides to work toward establishment of consultation mechanisms in respective countries to facilitate investment promotion between the two countries. Both sides will work closely to increase the value of bilateral trade and reduce impediments to trade in order to achieve the new trade target of USD 25 billion by 2025. They will also promote cooperation on digital economy.
The two countries will further promote technical cooperation through exchanges of experts and personnel in new areas, such as health security, energy and environmental security, and sustainable development.
Both countries will cooperate more closely in various areas, including maritime security, education, regional connectivity, water resources management particularly through strengthening of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), as well as non-traditional security issues such as cyber security and transnational organized crimes.
In addition, both sides concurred that Thailand and Vietnam should forge closer cooperation bilaterally and together with other countries in the Mekong Sub-region to promote sustainable economic and social development of the Sub-region. Both sides will work to synergize the respective countries’ efforts, and to fully utilize ACMECS and GMS as primary platforms for cooperation in the Sub-region.
On the Myanmar issue, which is a mutual concern of Thailand and Vietnam, they emphasized in particular the importance of moving forward with the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus of the ASEAN Leaders as soon as possible. On the South China Sea, both sides shared common interest in ensuring peace and stability in this important area, and in good progress of the consultations under the ASEAN framework on this matter. They reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN centrality. Vietnam also expressed support for Thailand’s upcoming APEC hosting in 2022.
Source: The Government Public Relations Department