Eight Vietnam-Thailand political consultation held

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung and Thai Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Thani Thongphakdi co-chaired the eighth annual political consultation between the two foreign ministries, which was held virtually on June 30.

At the event, Dung proposed that Thailand share experience with and transfer technologies to Vietnam in areas of Thailand’s strength.

He lauded Thailand’s national strategy 4.0 and the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economic Model, suggesting that the two sides strengthen collaboration in managing and developing particular sectors of the digital economy.

For his part, Thongphakdi affirmed that Thailand will actively cooperate with Vietnam in dealing with COVID-19, while supporting Vietnam in COVID-19 vaccine research and production and accessing vaccine supply sources, and coordinating with ASEAN countries to speed up the progress and strengthen the efficiency of the ASEAN COVID-19 Respond Fund, and soon put the ASEAN Regional Reserve for Medical Supplies into operation.

Both sides shared pleasure at the growth of the enhanced Vietnam-Thailand strategic partnership and pledged to work closely together at bilateral cooperation mechanisms in the future, especially the fourth joint cabinet meeting co-chaired by the two Prime Ministers, and the fourth meeting of the joint committee on bilateral cooperation at the foreign minister level.

They agreed to speed up measures to facilitate travelling and trade as well as post-pandemic economic recovery, striving to raise bilateral trade to 25 billion USD, while continuing to effectively implementing and expanding ODA projects funded by the Thai Government to support the sustainable community development in Vietnam.

Both sides concurred to coordinate closely in organising activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Thailand diplomatic ties (August 6, 1976-2021), and strengthen collaboration in other important areas such as culture, education, tourism, and response to non-traditional security challenges such as environmental pollution, climate change and water resources.

They will continue to coordinate with and support each other at regional and international forums such as the UN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Both sides will hasten the ratification and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), while strengthening cooperation within the sub-regional mechanisms such as the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), the Ayeyawadi-Chao Praya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Mekong River Commission, and the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation, and associating the growth of the Mekong subregion with the ASEAN Community building.

The officials also discussed regional and international issues of shared concern such as the Myanmar situation and the East Sea issue. They underlined the significance of the maintenance of rules-based order and respect for international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). They supported the strict and full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the East Sea that is effective, practical and in conformity with international law and the UNCLOS 1982.

The eighth Vietnam-Thailand political consultation at deputy foreign minister level concluded with success, contributing to enhancing the efficiency of coordination between the two ministries and promoting the enhanced strategic partnership between the two countries./.