Vietnam always attaches much importance to relations with neighbouring countries, including Thailand .

The affirmation was made by Assistant Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh while speaking at a ceremony to mark the 35th anniversary of Vietnam – Thailand diplomatic ties (August 6, 1976 – August 6, 2011) held in Bangkok on August 23.

Vinh highlighted the significance in promoting friendship and long-term cooperation between the two countries, aiming to provide mutual benefit for both countries’ people, as well as peace and prosperous development in the region.

He also reviewed the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in August 1976, saying the ties have been developed in all fields.

The two countries also exchanged frequent visits of high-ranking delegations and signed many cooperative agreements, as well as proposed many effective policies with the aims of strengthening comprehensive cooperation relations between the two countries, Vinh said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Permanent Secretary of the ThaiMinistry of Foreign Affairs Theerakun Niyom highly valued the bilateral cooperation in many fields between Vietnam and Thailand in the recent years, expressing his belief that the friendship and relations between the nations and people of Vietnam and Thailand would be further developed in the future.

On the same day, a workshop on Vietnam-Thailand economic and cultural linkages was also held. The workshop data showed that Vietnam and Thailand have become important partners.

Two-way trade between the two countries achieved 7.2 billion USD last year. At present, Thailand ’s 250 projects in Vietnam have a total investment of 5.8 billion USD.

The two countries are continuing to cooperate in the fields of culture, education, agriculture, fisheries, telecommunications, and security and defence./.