Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva affirmed his wish to bolster cooperation with Vietnam in economy, security, education, transport and agriculture.

The Thai leader made the affirmation while answering questions from the host country’s media in Hanoi on July 10.

The PM said that in terms of education, the two countries will boost the exchange of students and the teaching of the Thai and Vietnamese languages. In transport, they will focus on developing a network to link them through Laos and Cambodia .

Congratulating Vietnam for its socio-economic achievements in recent years, Abhisit Vejjajiva said that not only Thailand , but also the world, can see Vietnam ’s potential. Vietnam was even able to make marked economic progress despite the global crisis.

Thai investors are paying close attention to Vietnam and seeking investment opportunities in the potential market, he said.

On cooperation in ASEAN, PM Abhisit Vejjajiva wants the two countries to continue to work together to build a strong ASEAN community and boost the efficiency of cooperation in the Mekong sub-region and on the East-West corridor, among other areas.

He said that the two countries and others in the Mekong region need a shared understanding of how best to use and protect the river for the benefit of all countries involved and for the common sustainable development in the area.

PM Abhisit Vejjajiva stated that Thailand will transfer know-how and share experiences as it lends its support to Vietnam in assuming the ASEAN presidency in 2010.

On rice export cooperation, he said, as the world’s leading rice exporters, the two countries should tighten cooperation to help each other and solve problems pro-actively. He added that food plays an important role in ensuring social welfare throughout the region, so cooperation is necessary to build rice reserves between the two countries.

Earlier the same day, the Thai PM was received by the Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and had talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung./.