Bilateral trade between Vietnam and Thailand is expected to exceed 7 billion USD in 2011, making Thailand the third largest trade partner of Vietnam among ASEAN countries.

President of the HCM City chapter of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association, Truong Hoang, released the information at a get-together held in the city on Dec. 9 to celebrate Thailand ’s National Day and the 84 th birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Hoang said two-way trade reached 5.46 billion USD in the first eight months of 2011, up 28 percent over the same period of 2010.

By the end of October 2011, Thailand had 257 valid projects, with a total registered capital of 5.73 billion USD, ranking 10 th among 93 countries and territories investing in Vietnam .

Thai Consul General in HCM City Somchai Powcharoen said Vietnam-Thailand relations have developed rapidly in recent years, towards the level of partnership, especially in the fields of trade, investment, tourism and culture./.