Hanoi (VNA) – Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s upcoming official visit to Vietnam is expected to provide an opportunity for leaders of the two countries to foster bilateral ties and discuss a shared strategy for prosperity of both countries and their people, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Urawadee Sriphiromya told the press ahead of the visit.
During this visit, which will take place from May 15 -16, PM Pham Minh Chinh and PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra will co-chair the 4th Vietnam - Thailand Joint Cabinet Meeting.
The ambassador highlighted the longstanding, close, and warm relationship between Vietnam and Thailand, noting that this visit is significant as both sides are working together for upgrading their ties to a higher level.
It is especially meaningful as both nations prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026, which is as an important milestone in their history, she said.
The meeting between the two Prime Ministers as part of the visit will send a strong signal to all sectors and levels to actively collaborate, introduce new initiatives, and celebrate this milestone in the coming year.
Moreover, the visit takes place at a time when regional countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, are facing global instability and shifting geopolitical and economic landscapes. This trip provides an opportunity for both leaders to discuss solutions, work together to overcome current difficulties, and strengthen the two economies and regional relations, especially as both nations are ASEAN members, she stated.
Regarding the agenda of the visit, the ambassador mentioned that the discussions will cover a broad range of topics, reflecting the depth and scope of the cooperation between the two countries. One key area of focus would be enhancing security cooperation, particularly in tackling threats such as drug trafficking and cybersecurity. As both nations are increasingly relying on digital platforms, the rise in cybercrime presents new challenges, and the leaders are expected to discuss strategies to combat these issues.
On the economic front, Urawadee noted that increasing bilateral trade is a top priority. Despite many challenges posed by global economic conditions, trade between Thailand and Vietnam saw a 6% increase in the previous year, reaching 20 billion USD. The ambassador expressed her optimism that the leaders will discuss further measures to facilitate trade, especially in the logistics sector, where there is significant potential for collaboration. The possibility of improving transport connectivity, such as a rail connectivity between the two countries, will help enhance trade, particularly in goods moving from Thailand through Vietnam to China, she held.
The diplomat also mentioned the growing importance of Vietnam’s logistics infrastructure, particularly with regards to the increasing volume of Thai goods, including fruits, passing through Vietnam for export to China.
She highlighted the potential for greater investment cooperation, pointing to the long-standing presence of Thai companies in Vietnam. With major investors such as Central Retail, Amata, and WHA Group already established, Thai businesses are confident in Vietnam’s investment climate, and further steps to foster this cooperation are expected to be tabled.
According to the ambassador, discussions will touch on areas such as energy security, banking, and agriculture. Thai companies are increasingly involved in Vietnam’s renewable energy sector, and opportunities for greater collaboration in these areas will likely be explored. Furthermore, in the banking sector, Thai financial institutions such as Kasikornbank and Krungsri Bank are working closely with their Vietnamese counterparts to support innovation and expand services.
In the field of agriculture, Thai firms like CP Group have been providing high-quality food products to Vietnam, contributing to the country’s food security. The ambassador also mentioned several other large-scale investments, particularly in energy. She said that the Thai PM will seek more favourable conditions from the Vietnamese Government for Thai businesses.
People-to-people exchanges were also a key topic of discussion, the ambassador said. With a significant Thai community in Vietnam and many Thai-Vietnamese families, the ease of travel between the two countries is vital for maintaining strong connections. The ambassador pointed out that efforts to promote tourism, such as the “six countries, one destination” initiative, will likely be discussed, with hopes for expanded flight networks and enhanced transport links across ASEAN to boost tourism.
Additionally, the ambassador emphasised the need for the two countries to focus on the “three connection” strategy, which involves supply chain connection, local economic connection, and sustainable development strategy connection. Both Vietnam and Thailand have adopted policies aimed at promoting environmentally friendly economic growth, and discussions are expected to include how these strategies can benefit both nations, she said.
Urawadee pointed to the necessity of language exchange to enhance mutual understanding and support business activities, revealing that this will also be included in discussions between the two leaders.
Thai businesses in Vietnam are keen to hire Thai-speaking graduates, and with the growing influx of Thai tourists to Vietnam, the ability to speak Thai is becoming increasingly valuable in the tourism and service sectors. Moreover, Vietnam’s technological advancements, particularly in AI, automation, and semiconductor production, present new opportunities for collaboration, particularly in human resources development, she noted.
Mentioning measures to be taken by both countries towards the trade target of 25 billion USD, the ambassador acknowledged the significant challenges that both nations are facing in the global economy, including conflicts and trade tensions. However, despite these obstacles, two-way trade between Thailand and Vietnam has increased, with last year’s trade growth of 6%, she said.
The ambassador expressed her confidence that through joint efforts of both governments, agencies, and the private sector of both countries, Vietnam and Thailand will overcome headwinds to reach their trade targets as Thailand is Vietnam's 7th largest trading partner in the world and the largest in ASEAN./.
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