A top Vietnamese diplomat has said he hopes the Vietnam-Thailand and Thailand-Vietnam friendship associations will further enhance their future cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, especially when the two countries have recently set up their bilateral strategic partnership.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh expressed his wish while receiving President of the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association Prachuab Chaiyasan in Hanoi on December 5.

Hailing its role and activities over the past years, the Deputy PM suggested the association continue helping the overseas Vietnamese in the country stabilise their lives, thus contributing to Thailand’s economic growth and fostering the sound neighbourliness between the two nations.

The association along with the Vietnamese expatriates are expected to preserve historical sites relating to the revolutionary life of late President Ho Chi Minh in Thailand, he added.

Prachuab thanked the Vietnamese Government for facilitating cooperation agreements between both sides’ associations that help enhance the friendship and all-around affiliation between the two countries.-VNA