Viet Nam, Thailand work towards Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
VGP - Thai Ambassador to Viet Nam Urawadee Sriphiromya, expressed her hope that Viet Nam and Thailand will elevate their relationship into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the upcoming visit to Viet Nam by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Thai Ambassador to Viet Nam Urawadee Sriphiromya - Photo: VGP
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will pay an official visit to Viet Nam on May 15-16 at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
During the visit, the Thai Prime Minister will also co-chair the fourth Viet Nam–Thailand Joint Cabinet Meeting with the Vietnamese Prime Minister.
In a recent interview with VGP, Sriphiromya said, Viet Nam and Thailand share a close and warm relationship across all aspects.
During this visit, both countries expect to elevate their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and enhance coordination via joint strategic planning, aiming for the prosperous development of each country and their peoples.
In addition, the visit takes place as the two countries prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties— a significant milestone in the history of the bilateral relationship.
In the face of international instability and shifts in geopolitical and geo-economic landscapes, the visit also provides an opportunity for the two sides' leaders to exchange views and seek solutions, promote mutual cooperation to overcome challenges, strengthen their economies, and reinforce regional ties as members of ASEAN.
According to the Ambassador, the relationship between Viet Nam and Thailand is not merely a government-to-government connection but also features strong ties between their private sectors and their peoples.
The leaders will discuss measures to strengthen collaboration in responding to emerging challenges such as drug-related issues and cybersecurity, particularly in preventing and addressing threats originating from cyberspace.
In terms of economic cooperation, measures to facilitate bilateral trade will be focused on. Despite facing numerous regional and global challenges, in 2024, the two-way trade turnover reached US$20.18 billion, marking a 6.4 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Thailand is currently Viet Nam's 7th largest trading partner and the largest within ASEAN. Both countries continue to make efforts to achieve the goal of raising bilateral trade to US$25 billion in the near future.
In addition, the two sides will discuss ways to boost cooperation in logistics and supply chain connectivity. Viet Nam and Thailand still have significant potential for collaboration in the transport sector, including the transportation of goods from Thailand via Viet Nam for export to China.
Viet Nam remains top investment destination for Thailand
Regarding investment cooperation, Thai investors have had an early presence in Viet Nam. Some Thai enterprises have been operating in Viet Nam for over 30 years, engaging in multi-sector and multi-industry business activities.
"Through interactions with the Thai business community, I have realized that investors have great confidence in Viet Nam's potential and its supportive investment promotion policies. They believe that Viet Nam remains Thailand's top investment destination abroad," Sriphiromya noted.
Thailand is consistently ranked among the top 10 foreign investors in Viet Nam, with a total registered capital of up to US$14 billion, notably the Go shopping malls by Central Retail Group, industrial parks by Amata Group, and SCG, which is operating in various sectors such as petrochemicals (including a project worth over US$4 billion in Viet Nam).
In the energy sector, a number of Thai companies are also investing in renewable energy and supporting energy security in Viet Nam.
Additionally, Thai enterprises are active in other sectors in Viet Nam, such as banking. An example is Kasikorn Bank, one of Thailand's leading banks, which is collaborating with Viet Nam on innovation initiatives. Furthermore, Thai Beverage Group is preparing to open Dusit Thani hotel in Viet Nam.
Travel and tourism between the two countries are very convenient. Vietnamese citizens can stay in Thailand for 60 days without a visa. During his visit to Viet Nam in February, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa had discussions with Vietnamese side on the promotion of the "6 Countries, 1 Destination" initiative.
"With a large number of Thai visitors, as well as arrivals from other ASEAN countries, wanting to visit Viet Nam for tourism or to visit family, I hope that Viet Nam can develop and expand flight routes, as well as transportation options by land or water between ASEAN countries, in order to boost tourism and exchanges between these countries and Viet Nam," the Ambassador recommended.
In addition to the important topics mentioned above, the leaders of the two countries will concentrate on measures to promote the "three connectivity" strategy to benefit the peoples of both nations, including (1) supply chain connectivity, (2) local economic connectivity and transport infrastructure connectivity, and (3) connectivity of sustainable development strategies.
The two countries have jointly set out sustainable development policies and promoted environmentally friendly economic sectors. As such, the Prime Ministers of both countries will also discuss this topic, the Ambassador shared.
Viet Nam is currently making significant strides in technology sector, driven by the vision of its leadership to focus on economic development through the application of new technologies, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and robotics. Therefore, cooperation in developing human resources in these areas will be brought to discussion during the upcoming meeting between the two Prime Ministers, Sriphiromya added./.
