Vietnam broadens its strategic relations

Ties between Vietnam and Thailand has been further tightened in security and economic development, and stands ready to share its experience with Timor-Leste in national development with high economic growth.

- Thanh Thu

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao paid official visits to Vietnam last week and attended the third ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi.

At the bilateral talks with the Thai leader, Vietnamese Le Minh Hung proposed that the two sides continue strengthening political trust via frequent exchanges of delegations and high-level contacts in all channels.

He also called for greater effectiveness of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the Joint Cabinet Retreat at the prime ministerial level and ministerial-level cooperation mechanisms, while closely coordinating to effectively carry out the Vietnam-Thailand comprehensive strategic partnership.

“The two sides agreed to enhance defence and security ties, maintain joint maritime patrols, and strengthen collaboration in combating transnational crime, particularly drug trafficking, human trafficking, and cybercrime,” stated the Department of Information and Press (DIP) under Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “They also reaffirmed their commitment not to allow any individual or organisation to use the territory of one country to act against the other.”

When it comes to economic cooperation, the two leaders agreed to effectively promote connectivity in transport, logistics, aviation, and tourism, and study the development of road and coastal waterway transport routes linking the two countries and the Greater Mekong Subregion.

“Both leaders also concurred to maximise the effectiveness of the Vietnam-Thailand Joint Trade Committee mechanism, reduce trade barriers, facilitate market access for each other’s goods, and strive to achieve the bilateral trade target of $25 billion in the near term, with a longer-term goal of reaching $50 billion in a balanced manner,” the DIP said.