Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Co-Chairs the 10th Thailand–Viet Nam Political Consultation Group Meeting

On 6 September 2024, Mrs. Eksiri Pintaruchi, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand, co-chaired the 10th Meeting of the Thailand-Viet Nam Political Consultation Group (PCG) with H.E. Mr. Do Hung Viet, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, in Bangkok.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of the Thailand-Viet Nam Strengthened Strategic Partnership across all areas of cooperation. They reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining this momentum and ensuring continued progress in their bilateral relations.

They agreed to maintain regular high-level engagements and looked forward to the official visit of the Thai Prime Minister to Viet Nam in conjunction with the convening of the 4th Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR), during which both countries will announce the elevation of their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

They agreed to explore the possibility of establishing an MoU on cooperation between the diplomatic academies of the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, which could include exchanges of young diplomats, joint training, and other academic activities.

The two sides encouraged continued close coordination and cooperation between their defense and security agencies. They agreed to build on the outcomes of the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Chiang Mai in August 2024 to urgently tackle the increasing transboundary crimes in the region, particularly narcotic drugs, online scams, and human trafficking.

Recognising that Thailand and Viet Nam are each other's top trading partners, they agreed on the need to intensify efforts to facilitate trade and reduce obstacles to meet the bilateral trade target of USD 25 billion.

They also discussed improving transportation connectivity, particularly through expanded air links. Additionally, they agreed to collaborate with each other and other countries in the region to strengthen connectivity across all modes of transportation - road, rail, and sea - along the East-West and Southern Economic Corridors.

The Thai Permanent Secretary expressed her appreciation and sought continued support from the Vietnamese Government for Thai investment, which is currently the 9th largest source of foreign investment in Viet Nam. She also expressed Thailand's readiness to welcome more investment from Viet Nam.

Both sides agreed to expedite the establishment of a joint working group to develop a plan to translate the Three Connects Strategy into concrete actions. The goal is to strengthen connections between the two countries' supply chains, local economies, and sustainable development strategies.

They were pleased to see bilateral tourism return to pre-COVID-19 level. Last year, Thailand was the top tourist destination for Vietnamese travelers, while Thai visitors ranked among the top six foreign tourists in Viet Nam. The two sides agreed to further strengthen their tourism cooperation, particularly by increasing direct flights and advancing Thailand's "Six Countries, One Destination" initiative to attract more tourists from outside the region.

They agreed to enhance cultural ties, educational exchanges, and local-to-local cooperation by fully utilizing the more than 20 sister-city MOUs between their localities.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including global geopolitics, the South China Sea, and the situation in Myanmar. As key economies in the Mekong sub-region, they agreed to collaborate closely through Mekong cooperation frameworks, particularly ACMECS, to promote sustainable economic development and resilience across the sub-region.