PM's Vietnam trip marks new era

Paetongtarn Shinawatra is scheduled to make an official visit to Vietnam from tomorrow to Friday, the first by a Thai prime minister in over a decade.

- DANG TRUNG DUNG

Notably, during this visit, the two sides are expected to upgrade their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP), marking a pivotal step forward in bilateral ties that have matured steadily over the past five decades.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of South Vietnam and national reunification on April 30, Ms Paetongtarn has extended a message of congratulations to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, underscoring the importance Thailand places on the close friendship and neighbourly relations between the two nations.

She reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to working closely with Vietnam to further strengthen and elevate bilateral ties to new heights.

The incoming visit is seen as a reflection of both countries' shared determination to enhance cooperation across multiple sectors amid growing regional complexities.

It also sets the stage for celebrations of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. Thailand and Vietnam established diplomatic relations in 1976 and elevated their cooperation to a Strategic Partnership in 2013 — the first such agreement between two Asean member states.

That partnership was upgraded in 2019 to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, followed by the implementation of a Plan of Action for 2022-2027.

The expected Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) upgrade marks a leap in bilateral cooperation, aligning the relationship with broader strategic goals in the region.

Ms Paetongtarn's visit to Hanoi comes on the heels of a series of high-level engagements, including a phone call from Ms Chinh shortly after her election and a first face-to-face meeting at the Asean Summit in Jakarta in October 2024.