Hanoi, August 29 (VNA) - Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 29 held phone talks with his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra after she became the 31st Prime Minister of Thailand.
In the talks, PM Chinh asked PM Paetongtarn to convey the regards and best wishes of Party General Secretary and President To Lam to the King, Queen and Royal Family of Thailand. He congratulated Paetongtarn on being endorsed as the PM by the King of Thailand.
PM Chinh said that he believed that the Thai Government and people will continue to make greater achievements in the cause of national construction and development.
He affirmed Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of treasuring and wishing to strongly develop the Vietnam-Thailand relations in a more reliable and practical manner. On this occasion, PM Chinh also sent his sympathy to the Government and people of Thailand over the recent serious flooding in the northern region.
For her part, PM Paetongtarn congratulated Vietnam on the 79th anniversary of its National Day. She thanked PM Chinh for sending a letter and making a phone call to congratulate her when she assumed the position of prime minister.
She emphasised that Vietnam is a close neighbour and an important partner of Thailand in the region; highly evaluated Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements; affirmed her willingness to cooperate with the Vietnamese PM to enhance comprehensive and effective cooperation between the two countries for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace and stability in the region.
PM Paetongtarn also thanked Vietnam for its warm welcome for Princess Maha Chakri Sirinhorn of Thailand during her visit to the country from August 13-15.
The two PMs assessed that the Vietnam - Thailand Strategic Partnership is developing strongly and effectively in all fields. They agreed that it is necessary to soon upgrade the relationship to a new height.
PM Chinh highly appreciated Thailand's position as Vietnam's largest trading partner and second largest foreign investor in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
He affirmed that Vietnam will continue to create favourable conditions for Thai enterprises to do business effectively in Vietnam; supported Thailand's "Six Countries, One Destination" initiative to effectively exploit tourism potential among ASEAN countries.
PM Chinh hoped that the two sides will cooperate closely to promote transport connectivity in the region; step up cultural, educational cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges; and promote the friendship between the people of the two nations.
Agreeing with PM Chinh on the need to closely coordinate and remove difficulties to soon push two-way trade turnover to 25 billion USD, PM Paetongtarn also consented to strengthen the connection between the two economies through the effective implementation of the "Three Connectivity" Strategy.
She said that Vietnam and Thailand are the two economies that have close links and complement each other, hoping that the two countries will cooperate to promote their advantages to become the main economic growth drivers in the region.
Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, PM Chinh suggested Vietnam and Thailand continue to cooperate closely, strengthen solidarity in and the central role of ASEAN, support Laos to successfully fulfill its role as ASEAN Chair 2024, sustainably develop the Mekong sub-region; and coordinate to maintain ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.
On this occasion, PM Chinh invited his Thai counterpart to soon pay an official visit to Vietnam and co-chair the 4th Vietnam-Thailand Joint Cabinet Meeting.
PM Paetongtarn accepted the invitation, saying that she is looking forward to meeting with the Vietnamese PM when they attend multilateral conferences such as the ASEAN Summit in the near future./.
