Thailand, Vietnam look towards strategic partnership

PM Dung made this affirmation while co-chairing the second Vietnam-Thailand Joint Cabinet Retreat in Hanoi on October 27. He said the meeting is aimed at mapping out main orientations for promoting cooperation between the two countries.

Highlighting the development and achievements in bilateral cooperation, PM Dung said this has provided fresh impetus for raising their relationship to a new level for mutual benefit.

It will also help them strengthen coordination in the complicated contexts of the region and the world, he said.

The Government leader proposed that both sides openly and honestly discuss ways to boost cooperation in all fields as well as for coordinating to build an ASEAN Community.

Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra, who was co-chairwoman of the meeting, said she was delighted with the political and socoio-economic cooperation between Thai and Vietnamese agencies.

She also underlined the coordination between the two countries at regional forums, especially within the ASEAN framework towards establishing an effective ASEAN Community.

PM Shinawatra said she believes the meeting will help expand the bilateral relationship and contribute to realising the agreement to create a strategic partnership.

Both host and guest stressed the importance of peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea, and agreed to peacefully settle disputes in accordance with international laws, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Six-point Principles on the East Sea, aiming to develop a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.

PM Dung is confident that, as a coordinator of ASEAN-China relations, Thailand will be able to promote an ASEAN-China strategic partnership for the sake of peace, stability, and development in the region.

At a press briefing after the retreat, both PMs said they agreed to set up a joint committee to prepare for the establishment of a strategic partnership.

Both sides also agreed to try to increase annual two-way trade by 20 percent to US$18 billion by 2015.

The two countries will promote investment, cooperation and connectivity along the East-West Economic Corridor, boost cooperation in exporting rice, strengthen links via direct flight routes, and work closely together to deal with issues related to their fishermen and vessels, they said.

They also pledged to speed up negotiations for labour agreements and cultural exchanges between the two peoples, and teaching both Thai and Vietnamese at schools in both countries.