Vietnam and Thailand issued a joint press communique on the occasionof Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s official visit to Thailand on July23, which emphasised measures to strengthen the Strategic Partnershipbetween the two countries at the dawn of the fifth decade of bilateralrelations.
Following is the full text of the joint press communique:
“1.At the invitation of H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister ofthe Kingdom of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of theSocialist Republic of Vietnam and his Spouse paid an official visit tothe Kingdom of Thailand on July 23, 2015.
2. During the visit,H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung and his Spouse had an audience with Her RoyalHighness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and were warmly welcomed byH.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House in Bangkok on 23July 2015. Both Prime Ministers had a bilateral meeting and co-chairedthe Third Thailand – Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat, followed by theofficial luncheon hosted by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha. The PrimeMinister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam also had a courtesy callon H.E. Mr. Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, President of the NationalLegislative Assembly, and delivered his remarks in a Thailand – VietnamBusiness Dialogue, participated by the Thai and Vietnamese businesscommunities.
3. On this occasion, the two Leaders witnessedthe signing of 5 documents, namely: (i) Joint Statement on the ThirdVietnam – Thailand Joint Cabinet Retreat; (ii) MOU on labourcooperation; (iii) Agreement on Employment of Workers; (iv) Memorandumof Understanding on the Establishment of Friendship between Kon TumProvince, Vietnam and Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand; and (v)Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Friendship betweenLong An Province, Vietnam and Trat Province, Thailand.
4. Duringthe official talks, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung and H.E. General PrayutChan-o-cha informed each other of the socio-economic developments andforeign policy of each country. H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-chacongratulated the Government and people of Vietnam on the remarkableachievements in recent years. H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung expressed hisconfidence that under the leadership of the Royal Government inThailand, the Thai people will attain greater achievements in nationaldevelopment, turning Thailand into a prosperous and strong nation withan important role in the region.
5. The two Leaders valuedthe growing development of traditional friendship between the twocountries in recent years, particularly since the establishment ofStrategic Partnership in 2013. Both sides expressed great satisfactionwith the progress of bilateral relations and cooperation since theSecond Joint Cabinet Retreat in 2012. The two sides welcomed the regularexchanges of high-level visits, the effective implementation of thePlan of Action Implementing the Thailand – Vietnam Strategic Partnership(2014 - 2018), the strengthening of political and security cooperation,the continuing expansion of trade and investment cooperation, as wellas the deepening of cultural, social, and educational cooperation.
6.Both sides reiterated the importance of the high-level visits betweenthe two countries recently, including the official visit to Thailand byH.E. Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party ofVietnam in June 2013, the official visit by H.E. General PrayutChan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand in November 2014 and this visitby H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic ofVietnam; and agreed to promote exchange of visits and contacts at alllevels and through all channels with a view to laying the foundation forintensified cooperation in all areas.
7. Both sides agreed onmeasures to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between Thailand andVietnam at the dawn of the 5th decade of bilateral relations.
8.Both sides agreed to organize all year round activities in Thailand andVietnam in 2016 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Thailand –Vietnam diplomatic relations, including the exchange of high – levelvisits, the exchange of cultural activities, and the organization ofseminars to promote trade and investment.
9. Both sides agreedto strengthen and deepen bilateral cooperation stipulated in the Plan ofAction Implementing the Thailand – Vietnam Strategic Partnership (2014 -2018). They attached high importance to current bilateral cooperationmechanisms such as the Joint Cabinet Retreat, Joint Commission onBilateral Cooperation, Foreign Ministers’ Retreat and agreed toeffectively and expeditiously implement the agreements and initiativesconcluded by both sides in order to broaden, deepen and increaseeffectiveness of bilateral cooperation. The two Prime Ministersagreed to the following: (1) set a new target for bilateral trade volumefrom 15 billion USD to 20 billion USD by 2020; (2) establish aninformal consultation mechanism for business consultations andnegotiations in each country; (3) forge a multi-modal transportationlinkages, including land, sea, and air; (4) establish a Joint WorkingGroup to Cooperate in Addressing Illegal Fishing; and (5) commencenegotiations on Extradition Treaty.
10. Both sides reaffirmedtheir commitments not to allow any individual or organization to usethe territory of one country to conduct activities against the other.
11.Both Leaders exchanged views, in a candid and trusted manner, onregional issues of mutual interest. They highly valued the cooperationand coordination between the two countries at regional forums, andagreed to continue fostering cooperation at these fora, particularlyASEAN.
12. Both sides reaffirmed the position contained inthe Chairman’s Statement of the 26th ASEAN Summit. Both sides sharedconcerns on the situation in the South China Sea/East Sea, which hasaffected trust and confidence and may undermine peace, security andstability in the region and reaffirmed the importance of maintainingpeace, stability as well as safety and freedom of navigation in and over– flight above the South China Sea/East Sea. Both sides emphasized theneed for all parties to ensure the full and effective implementation ofthe Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the South China Sea/EastSea (DOC) in its entirety: to build, maintain and enhance mutual trustand confidence; exercise self – restraint in the conduct of activities;not resort to threat or use of force; and to resolve theirdifferences and disputes through peaceful means, in accordance withinternational law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on theLaw of Sea, and urged that dialogues and consultations be intensified toensure the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct of Parties in theSouth China Sea/East Sea (COC).
13. The two Leaders expressedsatisfaction over the results of the visit, and shared the view that thevisit had significantly contributed to promoting friendship andstrategic partnership between the two countries.
14. The twoLeaders also welcomed the successful conclusion of the Third Thailand –Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat. Both sides agreed to maintain thedynamism in their Strategic Partnership as Thailand and Vietnam advancetowards the 5th decade of bilateral ties.
15. H.E. Mr.Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,expressed his sincere thanks to H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, PrimeMinister of Thailand, to the Government and the people of Thailand forthe warm hospitality and friendship accorded to the VietnameseDelegation.”-VNA
Following is the full text of the joint press communique:
“1.At the invitation of H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister ofthe Kingdom of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of theSocialist Republic of Vietnam and his Spouse paid an official visit tothe Kingdom of Thailand on July 23, 2015.
2. During the visit,H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung and his Spouse had an audience with Her RoyalHighness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and were warmly welcomed byH.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha at the Government House in Bangkok on 23July 2015. Both Prime Ministers had a bilateral meeting and co-chairedthe Third Thailand – Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat, followed by theofficial luncheon hosted by H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha. The PrimeMinister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam also had a courtesy callon H.E. Mr. Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, President of the NationalLegislative Assembly, and delivered his remarks in a Thailand – VietnamBusiness Dialogue, participated by the Thai and Vietnamese businesscommunities.
3. On this occasion, the two Leaders witnessedthe signing of 5 documents, namely: (i) Joint Statement on the ThirdVietnam – Thailand Joint Cabinet Retreat; (ii) MOU on labourcooperation; (iii) Agreement on Employment of Workers; (iv) Memorandumof Understanding on the Establishment of Friendship between Kon TumProvince, Vietnam and Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand; and (v)Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Friendship betweenLong An Province, Vietnam and Trat Province, Thailand.
4. Duringthe official talks, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung and H.E. General PrayutChan-o-cha informed each other of the socio-economic developments andforeign policy of each country. H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-chacongratulated the Government and people of Vietnam on the remarkableachievements in recent years. H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung expressed hisconfidence that under the leadership of the Royal Government inThailand, the Thai people will attain greater achievements in nationaldevelopment, turning Thailand into a prosperous and strong nation withan important role in the region.
5. The two Leaders valuedthe growing development of traditional friendship between the twocountries in recent years, particularly since the establishment ofStrategic Partnership in 2013. Both sides expressed great satisfactionwith the progress of bilateral relations and cooperation since theSecond Joint Cabinet Retreat in 2012. The two sides welcomed the regularexchanges of high-level visits, the effective implementation of thePlan of Action Implementing the Thailand – Vietnam Strategic Partnership(2014 - 2018), the strengthening of political and security cooperation,the continuing expansion of trade and investment cooperation, as wellas the deepening of cultural, social, and educational cooperation.
6.Both sides reiterated the importance of the high-level visits betweenthe two countries recently, including the official visit to Thailand byH.E. Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party ofVietnam in June 2013, the official visit by H.E. General PrayutChan-o-cha, Prime Minister of Thailand in November 2014 and this visitby H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic ofVietnam; and agreed to promote exchange of visits and contacts at alllevels and through all channels with a view to laying the foundation forintensified cooperation in all areas.
7. Both sides agreed onmeasures to strengthen the Strategic Partnership between Thailand andVietnam at the dawn of the 5th decade of bilateral relations.
8.Both sides agreed to organize all year round activities in Thailand andVietnam in 2016 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Thailand –Vietnam diplomatic relations, including the exchange of high – levelvisits, the exchange of cultural activities, and the organization ofseminars to promote trade and investment.
9. Both sides agreedto strengthen and deepen bilateral cooperation stipulated in the Plan ofAction Implementing the Thailand – Vietnam Strategic Partnership (2014 -2018). They attached high importance to current bilateral cooperationmechanisms such as the Joint Cabinet Retreat, Joint Commission onBilateral Cooperation, Foreign Ministers’ Retreat and agreed toeffectively and expeditiously implement the agreements and initiativesconcluded by both sides in order to broaden, deepen and increaseeffectiveness of bilateral cooperation. The two Prime Ministersagreed to the following: (1) set a new target for bilateral trade volumefrom 15 billion USD to 20 billion USD by 2020; (2) establish aninformal consultation mechanism for business consultations andnegotiations in each country; (3) forge a multi-modal transportationlinkages, including land, sea, and air; (4) establish a Joint WorkingGroup to Cooperate in Addressing Illegal Fishing; and (5) commencenegotiations on Extradition Treaty.
10. Both sides reaffirmedtheir commitments not to allow any individual or organization to usethe territory of one country to conduct activities against the other.
11.Both Leaders exchanged views, in a candid and trusted manner, onregional issues of mutual interest. They highly valued the cooperationand coordination between the two countries at regional forums, andagreed to continue fostering cooperation at these fora, particularlyASEAN.
12. Both sides reaffirmed the position contained inthe Chairman’s Statement of the 26th ASEAN Summit. Both sides sharedconcerns on the situation in the South China Sea/East Sea, which hasaffected trust and confidence and may undermine peace, security andstability in the region and reaffirmed the importance of maintainingpeace, stability as well as safety and freedom of navigation in and over– flight above the South China Sea/East Sea. Both sides emphasized theneed for all parties to ensure the full and effective implementation ofthe Declaration on the Conduct of parties in the South China Sea/EastSea (DOC) in its entirety: to build, maintain and enhance mutual trustand confidence; exercise self – restraint in the conduct of activities;not resort to threat or use of force; and to resolve theirdifferences and disputes through peaceful means, in accordance withinternational law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on theLaw of Sea, and urged that dialogues and consultations be intensified toensure the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct of Parties in theSouth China Sea/East Sea (COC).
13. The two Leaders expressedsatisfaction over the results of the visit, and shared the view that thevisit had significantly contributed to promoting friendship andstrategic partnership between the two countries.
14. The twoLeaders also welcomed the successful conclusion of the Third Thailand –Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat. Both sides agreed to maintain thedynamism in their Strategic Partnership as Thailand and Vietnam advancetowards the 5th decade of bilateral ties.
15. H.E. Mr.Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,expressed his sincere thanks to H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, PrimeMinister of Thailand, to the Government and the people of Thailand forthe warm hospitality and friendship accorded to the VietnameseDelegation.”-VNA
