Former Thai Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Bhichai Rattakul has been granted with the Friendship Order of the Vietnamese State for his contributions to the Vietnam-Thailand relationship.

The Friendship Order was presented by Ambassador to Thailand Ngo Duc Thang at a ceremony held in Bangkok on August 6.

Addressing the event, Ambassador Thang said 37 years ago Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nguyen Duy Trinh and his Thai counterpart Bhichai Rattakul signed an agreement to establish bilateral diplomatic ties and exchange representatives at ambassador level.

He described the event as an important milestone in the path of normalising and developing the multi-faceted relationship between the two countries.

The relationship has been elevated to a strategic partnership during an official visit to Thailand by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong last June, the diplomat added.

For his part, Bhichai thanked the Vietnamese State and people for such a noble award. He expressed hope that the friendship between the two nations will be further consolidated and developed.-VNA