Vietnam, Thailand eye 15 billion USD in trade by 2020

The Vietnam-Thailand Joint Committee on bilateral cooperation held its second meeting in Hanoi on March 20, during which both sides agreed to raise two-way trade to 15 billion USD in 2020.
The Vietnam-Thailand Joint Committee on bilateral cooperation held itssecond meeting in Hanoi on March 20, during which both sides agreed toraise two-way trade to 15 billion USD in 2020.

During themeeting, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister PhamBinh Minh and his Thai counterpart Thanasak Patimapragorn, both sidesalso pledged to enhance investment partnership by working closely inimplementing large-scale Thai projects in Vietnam.

This move is expected to increase Thailand’s investment in Vietnam by five times from the current level.

The joint committee agreed to propose organising the third jointcabinet meeting during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit toThailand, which is slated for the first half of 2015, and holding thesecond ministerial meeting of the Joint Committee on Trade in Thailandsoon.

On defence-security partnership, both sides willurge the organision of the seventh meeting of the political-securityjoint working group in Thailand soon, while speeding up negotiations forextradition deals.

Both sides agreed to hold discussionon the opening of a cross-border bus route between Vietnam and Thailandand promote coastal marine transport collaboration among Thailand,Cambodia and Vietnam, while striving to reach related agreements withinthis June.

Vietnam and Thailand will also fosterlabour cooperation by working together for a memorandum of understandingon labour cooperation and a recruitment deal, creating favourableconditions for Vietnamese to work in Thailand .

At thesame time, they committed to enhancing agro-forestry and fisherycoordination, while joining hands in dealing with issues related tofishermen and fishing vessels with humanitarian and friendship spirit.

Both countries reached high consensus on cooperation in other fieldsincluding culture, tourism, education-training, science and technology,and environment protection.

They also pledged to work closely together and with other ASEAN members for the formation of an ASEAN Community in 2015.

Regarding East Sea issues, both sides concurred to coordinate closelyin promoting the settling of disputes through peaceful measures withrespect for international law, including the 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea. They also highlighted the importanceof full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inthe East Sea .

Thailand, as the coordinator for theASEAN-China relations, will actively work with relevant parties to pushfor substantive consultations for a Code of Conduct in the East Sea(COC), the Thai Deputy PM vowed.

The two sides will alsosupport each other in their bids for non-permanent seats in the UNSecurity Council, with Thailand to run for the 2017-2018 tenure andVietnam 2020-2021. Thailand also backs Vietnam’s candidacy for the UNEconomic and Society Council in the 2016-2018 tenure.

Theywill also strengthen the sharing of information and experience inplanning and managing water resources, especially in Mekong River,while coordinating in other mechanism, including the Mekong RiverCommission.

Following the meeting, the two Deputy PMssigned an agreement between the two Foreign Ministries. They agreed tohold the next meeting in Thailand in March next year.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thanasak Patimapragorn ismaking an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamesecounterpart Pham Binh Minh.

Vietnam-Thailand two-way trade reached 10.6 billion USD last year, a year-on-year rise of 12.5 percent.

Thailand ranks 10th among 101 countries and territories investing inVietnam with 374 projects worth a total 6.69 billion USD by March 2015.-VNA

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