NA Chairman Hue assured his host that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to further enhance its strategic partnership with Thailand.

Wan Noor hailed the significance of the first visit to Thailand by Chairman Hue, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership this year. He affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner of Thailand in the region. 

The two parliamentary leaders expressed their delight at the robust development of the Vietnam-Thailand bilateral strategic partnership across all fields, from politics, national defence-security to economy, trade, investment, tourism, transportation, education-training and culture. In ASEAN, Thailand remains Vietnam's largest trade partner, with a record two-way trade of nearly 22 billion USD last year, and the second largest investor in Vietnam with around 14 billion USD. 

They agreed on major orientations to further promoting the role of the two legislative bodies in enhancing trust, facilitating and promoting cooperation across various fields. They agreed to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels through the Party, State, Government, NA and people-to-people exchange channels; effectively roll out cooperation mechanisms and actively implement the action plan to carry out the Vietnam-Thailand enhanced strategic partnership for the 2022-2027 period.  

Host and guest vowed to strive to raise two-way trade to 25 billion USD in a more balanced manner by reducing trade barriers and creating a favourable environment for businesses from both countries to expand their operations.

The top Thai legislator agreed with Chairman Hue about the need for close collaboration to establish a favourable legal corridor to successfully implement the "Three Connectivity Partnership" strategy. This strategy involves forming new supply chains to produce high-value-added products, particularly in agriculture, contributing to food security in the region; connecting businesses and localities of the two countries, enhancing transportation links, and effectively cooperating in digital transformation in a safe and efficient manner and in the building of a green economy. 

The host also proposed strengthening coordination in global issues such as climate change, environment protection, health care and pandemic prevention.

The two sides committed to fostering cooperation in other important areas such as national defence-security, maritime affairs, education-training, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange. They also looked to expand programmes teaching Thai and Vietnamese languages in each country and develop a "Two Countries, One Destination" tourism project. 

Hue appreciated Thailand's support for the building of a Vietnam Street and establishment of a Vietnam Studies Centre in Udon Thani province. He hoped that Thailand will continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community, activities of Vietnamese associations, as well as the preservation of relic sites associated with President Ho Chi Minh in the country.

About cooperation between the two legislatures, the leaders pledged to increase the exchange of delegations and exchange activities through channels such as friendship parliamentary groups, and female and young parliamentarians. They will hold activities to share law-building experience, consult and support each other at multilateral parliamentary forums, and step up the monitoring of the implementation of bilateral cooperation agreements signed by the two countries. 

On global and regional issues of shared concerns, they reaffirmed their commitment to continuing to increase consultations and work closely together at global and regional forums. They highlighted ASEAN’s solidarity and central role in regional issues, coordination in the sustainable management and use of the Mekong River's water resources, and the importance of maintaining ASEAN unity and common stance on the East Sea issue.

Building upon the past achievements, Hue said both sides need to exert joint efforts to elevate bilateral relationship to a greater height. He invited the Thai NA President to visit Vietnam, and Wan Noor accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Concluding the talks, the two legislative leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the Vietnamese NA and the Thai House of Representatives. They also witnessed the signing of an MoU on cooperation between the Office of the Vietnamese NA and Secretariat of the Thai House of Representatives.

On the occasion, they planted two rubber fig trees which were brought from Vietnam by Chairman Hue as a gift to the Thai parliament.

NA Chairman Hue meets Thai Senate President

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on December 7 met with President of the Senate of Thailand Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, as part of his official visit to Thailand.

The Thai Senate leader said the visit of Chairman Hue will create new momentum for the Thailand-Vietnam strategic partnership and open up new directions for legislative cooperation between the two countries.

Chairman Hue affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wants to further deepen trust and the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The two leaders agreed to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels and effectively utilise bilateral cooperative mechanisms, including the joint cabinet meeting.

They vowed to coordinate for the effective implementation of the action plan to carry out the Vietnam-Thailand enhanced strategic partnership in 2022-2027, and work to raise bilateral trade to 25 billion USD.    

The two sides also reached consensus on expanding joint work in new fields such as green economy, digital economy and renewable energy, and enhancing transport connectivity, including the opening of new direct flights between localities to facilitate trade, tourism and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.  

NA Chairman Hue and Senate President Pornpetch agreed that the two countries should cooperate with and learn from each other in economic development. They said Vietnam and Thailand, which have similar strengths, should not compete with each other but rather cooperate in the win-win spirit, particularly in supply chains to raise the value of their products such as agricultural products, rice, energy and electric vehicles.

The Thai Senate leader appreciated the contributions made by the Vietnamese community in Thailand to the local socioeconomic development.

Chairman Hue asked Thailand to continue supporting the promotion of Vietnamese historical and cultural values in Thailand, including the relic sites linked with President Ho Chi Minh.        

Regarding legislative cooperation, the two leaders agreed to intensify information exchange and experience sharing, and coordinate and support each other at multilateral parliamentary forums like the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF).

They pledged to work together to maintain ASEAN’s solidarity and centrality, particularly in regional matters like the East Sea and Myanmar issues.       

Chairman Hue invited the Thai Senate President to visit Vietnam at a suitable time, and Pornpetch accepted the invitation with pleasure./.VNA