Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-ocha expressed their satisfaction at the strong development of Vietnam-Thailand cooperation over the past 41 years since they established diplomatic ties in August 1976, during their talks in Bangkok on August 17.
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The two PMs recognised that the bilateral relations have been stable and developed in all fields from politics and security to economy and socio-culture, especially after Vietnam and Thailand established a strategic partnership in 2013.
Both sides vowed efforts to raise bilateral trade to US$20 billion by 2020 and support each other to become centres for investment and trade in the region. They agreed to foster rice-related cooperation and provide favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Thai rice to access each other’s market.
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PM Chan-o-cha affirmed that he will encourage Thai businesses to increase investment in fields critical to Vietnam’s development such as tourism, support industries, finance, banking, science-technology, and agro-fisheries.
Both leaders stressed that security-defence cooperation is one of the pillard of the Vietnam-Thailand strategic partnership. The two countries will step up sharing defence-related viewpoints and policies while boosting collaboration between their defence arms and services.
They also reiterated the commitment of not allowing any individuals or organisations to use this country’s territory to carry out activities sabotaging the other country. The two sides will coordinate in fighting terrorism and crimes, dealing with sea-related issues, and promoting negotiations on agreements on extradition and mutual assistance in criminal matters.
They also affirmed the importance of reinforcing cooperation and sharing experience in preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The PMs agreed to increase transport connectivity through multiple means, including by road, sea and air, between the two countries and within the Greater Mekong Subregion such as a bus route linking Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, a coastal transport route connecting Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and air routes linking Vietnam and Thailand.
They reached a high consensus on working out measures to bolster ties in other spheres like labour, agricultural trade, tourism, science-technique, cultural, and people-to-people exchange.
On this occasion, PM Phuc asked Thailand to continue providing optimal conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country to integrate into the local society and develop. He also called on Thailand to soon grant travel documents for old Vietnamese expatriates.
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PM Chan-o-cha confirmed that he is going to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting slated for November in Da Nang city, adding that his country supports Vietnam’s initiatives within the APEC framework.
Looking back ASEAN’s 50-year journey, the leaders were glad to see that the ASEAN Community has grown into an important cooperation mechanism for the bloc itself and for countries in and outside the region.
PM Phuc highly valued Thailand, one of the founding countries of the grouping, for always maintaining its active role in strategic security and development issues of the ASEAN Community.
Meanwhile, PM Chan-o-cha stressed the increasingly dynamic, proactive and responsible role of Vietnam in ASEAN, and expressed his hope that the two countries will continue their close relations within the bloc’s framework and contribute to its common successes.
The two sides committed to working closely with each other and with other ASEAN member states to strengthen the bloc’s unity, maintain its stance and promote its centrality in issues that challenge the region’s peace and security.
They reiterated the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability as well as navigation safety and freedom in the East Sea.
They stressed that parties concerned need to fully and efficiently implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); build, preserve and improve mutual trust; respect the principles of exercising self-restraint and banning the use of force; address differences and disputes by peaceful means in compliance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The leaders also reaffirmed their support for ASEAN and China to soon have a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
On the occaison, the PMs witnessed the signing of important documents, including an agreement between the two governments on cooperation in science, technology, renovation and creation, and memoranda of understanding between ministries and sectors pertaining to economy, trade, post, telecommunications, information technology and banking, as well as those between localities and businesses.
Late on the day, PM Phuc, his spouse and the Vietnamese delegation attended a banquet hosted by PM Prayut Chan-ocha and his spouse.
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung emphasised the need to further improve institutions and policy frameworks, develop digital infrastructure and data resources, and create the necessary conditions for science, technology, innovation and digital transformation to become new drivers of economic growth.
Prof. Huang Rihan of Huaqiao University in China’s Fujian province said the Vietnamese leader’s address highlighted three major crises currently facing the world - the crisis of the international order, the crisis of development models, and the crisis of strategic trust.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang said that alongside the robust growth of relations between the two countries, defence cooperation has continued to develop extensively and intensively, becoming increasingly practical and effective.
Adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 24, 2024, and opened for signature in Hanoi in October 2025, the convention is the first global multilateral treaty dedicated to combating cybercrime.
The visits also took place at a time when the Philippines is serving as ASEAN Chair in 2026, Singapore is preparing to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2027, and Vietnam is set to host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2027.
Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, expressed her emotion at seeing the children’s optimism despite difficult circumstances, noting that both Vietnam and the Philippines place children at the centre of their development policies, from education, health care to child protection.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation departed Manila on June 1, concluding a successful state visit to the Republic of the Philippines from May 31 to June 1 at the invitation of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and his spouse.
Participants reviewed rental housing demand in each area, considering different market segments and target groups. They also examined the gap between supply and demand, and pinpointed issues in policy frameworks.
Vietnam and the Philippines have agreed to elevate their relationship to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, opening a new phase of cooperation in politics, defence and security, economic ties and other key areas.
Vietnam and the Philippines on June 1 issued a Joint Statement on the Enhanced Strategic Partnership during General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam’s state visit to the Philippines.
Economic cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines should move to a new level, with greater emphasis on quality, depth and substance, as the two countries seek to maximise opportunities under their newly upgraded Enhanced Strategic Partnership.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse are paying state visit to the Philippines from May 31 to June 1 at the invitation of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and his spouse.
General Secretary and President To Lam encouraged the Vietnamese in the Philippines to remain united, abide by local laws, contribute practically to the homeland and continue fostering friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
By moving from crisis response to proactive risk reduction, Vietnam has positioned itself as a responsible and mature “architect” of regional peace, said a Malaysia-based expert.
The President Ho Chi Minh monument in the ASEAN Garden holds profound historical, cultural, and diplomatic significance, reflecting the friendship between Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as the solidarity within the ASEAN community.
The trip demonstrates Vietnam's high regard for its friendship and cooperation with the Philippines, as well as with ASEAN and the Southeast Asian region.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam on May 30 met with leaders of major Singaporean corporations, technology companies, financial institutions and banks with long-standing investments and business operations in Vietnam.
General Secretary and President Lam expressed his hope that the community will remain united, preserve the Vietnamese language and cultural identity, and strengthen ties with the homeland.
The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in emerging and high-potential fields, including digital transformation, green economy, clean energy transition, new technologies, innovation, smart finance, supply chain resilience, financial centre development and food security.
At the A*STAR Model Factory, one of Singapore’s flagship research and application facilities for smart industry, innovation and digital transformation in production, General Secretary and President Lam expressed his impression of Singapore’s approach in creating conditions for enterprises to directly test technologies before making large-scale investments.