This view was shared by the Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly, Nguyen Phu Trong, and his visiting Thai counterpart Chai Chidchob during talks in Hanoi on July 21.

To meet the target, Mr Trong proposed that the two countries maintain a regular exchange of high-level visits, including those by their legislators, as well as visits by their ministries, sectors and localities.

Vietnam will create the best possible conditions for Thai businesses to operate efficiently in Vietnam, and at the same time encourage its businesses to invest in Thailand, said Mr Trong.

The top Vietnamese legislator affirmed that Vietnam will continue to implement its foreign policy of independence and self-reliance, while diversifying and multilateralising international relations, actively integrating into the region and the world for the sake of peace, cooperation and development.

Vietnam attaches great importance to developing ties of friendship and cooperation with Thailand, said Mr Trong.  

He thanked Thailand for supporting Vietnam’s stance that the Thai government should not allow any third parties to use its territory to sabotage Vietnam.

According to Mr Trong, Vietnam is preparing to attend the 30^th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) to be held in Thailand in August and is seeking Thailand’s support for its assuming the AIPA Presidency for the 2009-2010 tenure.

For his part, Thai parliament president Chidchob welcomed Mr Trong’s suggestions and said the two parliamentary bodies should increase their regular exchange of visits.

Chidchob, who is also Speaker of the Thai House of Representatives, praised Vietnam’s political stability and impressive economic development, considering them valuable examples for Thailand.

Vietnam and Thailand treasure their long-standing friendship which should be promoted in the future, said the Thai legislator. The Thai National Assembly will do its utmost to implement agreements signed by the two countries and work closely with its Vietnamese counterpart to share experiences in legislation, oversight and decision-making.  

He said he hopes to receive Mr Trong in Thailand in August at the 30^th AIPA General Assembly.

The same day, the chief Thai legislator was received by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung who voiced Vietnam’s support for Thailand in performing its role as the ASEAN chairman as well as in hosting the 30^th AIPA General Assembly.

Mr Dung thanked the Thai National Assembly, government and people for assisting Vietnamese nationals in integrating well into the local community, especially in building a memorial house for the late President Ho Chi Minh in the country.

For his part, Chidchob praised Vietnam’s current solutions to maintain economic growth in the context of the global economic recession.

Both host and guest agreed that Vietnam and Thailand should increase cooperation in all fields, especially in agriculture, rice production and export.