Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra have agreed to prepare a roadmap for the establishment of the Vietnam-Thailand Strategic Partnership during their meeting on the sidelines of regional summits in Vientiane , Laos .

At their meeting on March 12, the two PMs agreed to instruct the two Foreign Ministries to work closely with relevant agencies and departments to devise the roadmap and hold a meeting of the Bilateral Joint Committee within this year.

They noted with joy the development of the friendship and multi-dimensional cooperation between the two countries, especially since the second Vietnam-Thailand Joint Cabinet Retreat in last October.

PM Dung expressed his pleasure at the two countries’ efforts to step up economic cooperation, affirming that the Vietnamese Government always creates favourable conditions for Thai businesses to invest in Vietnam .

He extended his hope that Thai Government will continue encouraging its businesses to invest in Vietnam , especially in the central region, in order to fully tap potentials held by the East-West Economic Corridor.

The two PMs reached consensus on protecting the environment and water resources of the Mekong River .

They voiced their support for ASEAN’s stance stated in the Declaration on Six-Point Principles on the East Sea, relating to the maintenance of peace, stability, and safe and free navigation in the East Sea, the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties on the East Sea (DOC), towards building a Code of Conduct on the East Sea (COC).

In 2013, Thailand set to host the 3 rd Thai-Vietnamese Joint Cabinet Retreat and the 3 rd Asia-Pacific Water Summit, which Vietnam is invited to join.

Also on the sidelines of the ongoing regional summits, Dung held a meeting with Myanmar Vice President Sai Mauk Kham on March 13, during which they sought measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The Vietnamese leader congratulated Myanmar on the country’s recent achievements, especially in expanding its external relations to increasingly affirm its role and position in the region and the world at large.

Vietnam attaches great importance to enhancing the traditional friendship and close cooperation with Myanmar , Dung said.

The leader affirmed Vietnam ’s support for Myanmar ’s successful assumption of the ASEAN Chair in 2014, expressing his hope for Myanmar ’s early membership of the Mekong River Commission.

For his part, Sai Mauk Kham highly valued Vietnam ’s achievements in economic growth and social welfare as well as its economic restructuring policies and inflation curbing efforts.

He praised Vietnam ’s active role and contributions to peace and stability in the region and in building the ASEAN Community.

Both expressed their delight at the fruitful development of the two countries’ relations over the past time, especially in politics, foreign affairs, economics, trade, investment, national security and defence and agriculture.

In an effort to deepen the bilateral ties, the two leaders agreed to increase the exchange of delegations and people-to-people diplomacy while expanding cooperation between localities.

They were unanimous to implement already-reached agreements, focusing on the 12 prioritised areas, and bring into full play cooperation mechanisms to realise two-way trade value target of at least 500 million USD by 2015.

The two sides will also work closely together at regional and international forums, especially ASEAN and the United Nations, ACMECS and GMS.

At the same time, they will coordinate with other ASEAN member countries to promote the common stand and the central role played by the bloc in dealing with regional issues, including those regarding the East Sea .

These meetings were held on the sidelines of the 6 th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV 6), the 5 th Ayeyawadi-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 5), and the 7 th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit (CLV 7).-VNA