Vietnam, Thailand hold eighth political consultation

VOV.VN - Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung and Thai Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Thani Thongphakdi on June 30 co-chaired the eighth annual political consultation between the two foreign ministries.

At the event which was held virtually,  the Vietnamese diplomat suggested Thailand share experience with and transfer technologies to Vietnam in field of the former’s  strength.

He greatly appreciated Thailand’s national strategy 4.0 and the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economic Model and asked both sides to step up collaboration in managing and developing particular sectors of the digital economy.

In response, Thongphakdi said his nation would boost stronger cooperation with Vietnam in dealing with COVID-19, while supporting Vietnam in COVID-19 vaccine research and production.  Thailand is ready to help Vietnam access vaccine supply sources, and coordinate with ASEAN member states to accelerate the progress, enhance the efficiency of the ASEAN COVID-19 Respond Fund, and put the ASEAN Regional Reserve for Medical Supplies into operation as soon as possible.

The pair showed their elation at the growth of the strengthened Vietnam-Thailand strategic partnership and pledged to work hand in hand at bilateral cooperation mechanisms in the time ahead, especially the fourth joint cabinet meeting co-chaired by the two Prime Ministers, and the fourth meeting of the joint committee on bilateral cooperation at the foreign minister level.

They concurred to work out a range of measures to facilitate travelling and trade as well as post-pandemic economic recovery with a view to raising bilateral trade to US$25 billion in the near future. They will continue to effectively implementing and expanding ODA projects funded by the Thai Government to support the sustainable community development in Vietnam.

Both sides consented to ramp up close coordination in launching a string of activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Thailand diplomatic ties (1976-2021), and bolster collaboration in other important fields such as culture, education, tourism, and response to non-traditional security challenges such as environmental pollution, climate change and water resources.

They agreed to continue to coordinate with and offer mutual support at regional and international forums such as the UN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

Both sides will fast-track the ratification and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), while augmenting cooperation within the sub-regional mechanisms such as the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), the Ayeyawadi-Chao Praya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Mekong River Commission, and the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation, and associating the growth of the Mekong subregion with the ASEAN Community building.

They also compared notes on regional and international issues of shared concern such as the Myanmar situation and the East Sea issue. They highlighted the significance of the maintenance of rules-based order and respect for international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). They supported the strict and full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the East Sea that is effective, practical and in line with international law and the UNCLOS 1982.

The successful conclusion of the eighth Vietnam-Thailand political consultation at deputy foreign minister level has contributed to raising the efficiency of coordination between the two ministries and propelling the two countries’ strategic partnership forward.

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