Vietnam - Thailand issued a joint statement

Vietnam and Thailand issued a joint statement with the message "Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam - Thailand Strategic Partnership".

VOV Online Newspaper republishes the full text of this joint statement.

President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid an official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand

November 16, 2022, Bangkok

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Vietnam-Thailand Strategic Partnership: Opening a new chapter of an even stronger Strategic Partnership for peace, stability and shared prosperity.

(Photo: VNA)

1. At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Thailand, former General Prayut Chan-o-cha, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his wife Tran Nguyet Thu paid an official visit to Thailand on November 16, 2022, before attending the APEC Summit in Bangkok. This is the first official visit in 24 years by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Thailand, marking another historic milestone in the increasingly close relationship between the two countries.

2. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the official welcoming ceremony, held talks with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and attended the dinner hosted by the Thai Prime Minister at the Government House. During the visit, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc also had meetings with other Thai leaders and businesses from both countries.

3. The two Leaders had in-depth discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern in an atmosphere of trust, sincerity and cordiality. In the face of the negative impacts of current geopolitical challenges on developing countries, the two Leaders expressed their determination to strengthen the Vietnam-Thailand relationship in all areas, including security, trade, investment, sustainable development and people-to-people exchange, in order to minimize the impacts from these external factors.

As two major economies in Southeast Asia with enormous potential, Vietnam and Thailand will combine their strengths and economic cooperation to achieve a strong, sustainable and self-reliant recovery in the post-Covid-19 period in both countries. These efforts will strengthen economic integration in the wider Mekong Sub-region, while promoting growth and development in this region at the heart of East Asia.

As two countries that actively and constructively contribute to regional and international issues, Vietnam and Thailand will further strengthen coordination and partnership to promote peace, stability and development in the Mekong Sub-region, ASEAN and internationally.

4. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the two countries' continued regular consultations and exchanges of delegations at all levels to promote bilateral cooperation, despite the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in recent years. The two leaders particularly acknowledged the success of the 4th meeting of the Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in 2021, the 4th meeting of the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) in 2022, and the 2nd Vietnam-Thailand Energy Forum (VTEF) held in Thailand in 2022.

5. The two Leaders expressed their satisfaction with the strong and increasingly extensive development of the Vietnam - Thailand relationship and welcomed the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries in 2023. The two Leaders believed in the great potential in further developing the Strategic Partnership and agreed to open a new chapter of an even stronger Strategic Partnership for peace, stability and shared prosperity. In that spirit, the two Leaders witnessed the signing of the Action Program to implement the Vietnam - Thailand Enhanced Strategic Partnership for the period of 2022 - 2027, aiming to orient the Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the coming decade.

On this occasion, the two leaders also witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation documents.

Strengthening Partnership for Peace and Stability

6. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the fact that the two countries have maintained high-level consultations and dialogues, promoting bilateral cooperation in the fields of security and defense to strengthen strategic trust between the two countries on the basis of trust, mutual respect and mutual benefit. The two sides agreed to enhance substantive cooperation in the fields of security and defense of shared interests and concerns. The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment not to allow any individual or organization to use the territory of one country to conduct activities against the other.

7. The two Leaders welcomed plans to hold high-level dialogues and consultations to further deepen political and security cooperation at all levels, including the 4th Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR) in the second half of 2023, the 4th Defense Policy Dialogue on 17 November 2022, the 12th Joint Working Group Meeting on Political and Security Cooperation in the first quarter of 2023, the 2nd High-level Dialogue on Crime Prevention and Security Issues between the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam and the Royal Thai Police scheduled for December 2022, and the 1st Vietnam Coast Guard and Friends Exchange Program in December 2022.

Strengthening Partnerships for Recovery and Sustainable Growth

8. The two leaders welcomed the continued growth in bilateral trade, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing global challenges. Thailand is currently Vietnam's largest trading partner in ASEAN, while Vietnam is Thailand's second largest trading partner in ASEAN. The two leaders expressed satisfaction that two-way trade turnover continues to grow and is on track to reach the target of 25 billion USD by 2025. The two leaders also expressed satisfaction that bilateral trade continues to grow in an increasingly balanced direction.

9. In order to promote stronger trade and investment between the two countries, the two Leaders assigned relevant agencies to simplify import-export procedures; facilitate cross-border trade and transit of goods to third countries; resolve investment problems; and research new areas of cooperation, especially digital economy and e-commerce.

10. The two leaders attached importance to promoting, facilitating and protecting investment in each country; committed to strengthening cooperation to further promote bilateral investment between Vietnam and Thailand. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed that Thailand is currently the 8th largest foreign investor in Vietnam, with a total value of over 13 billion USD as of 2021. Prime Minister Prayut welcomed the increasing interest of Vietnamese investors in Thailand and hoped that there would be more Vietnamese investment in Thailand in the near future.

11. The two Leaders welcomed recent positive developments related to Thai investment, including the establishment of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (ThaiCham) in December 2021; opening of representative offices of the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM) and the Ho Chi Minh City branch of Kasikorn Bank (KBANK); granting of a credit facility of US$100 million by EXIM Bank to the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV); signing of the Bilateral Trade and Investment Facilitation Agreement between EXIM Bank and the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) with the first year trade target of US$10 billion (US$250 million); announcement of Central Retail Group's investment of US$790 million to expand its store network in Vietnam over the next four years; and the operation of the Long Son Petrochemical Complex of Siam Cement Group (SCG) in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province in 2022. The two leaders expressed their satisfaction with the success of the launching ceremony of the retail payment connection between Vietnam and Thailand using QR codes, aiming to facilitate tourism development and the use of domestic currency, as well as promote the digital transformation process of the two countries.

12. The two Leaders expressed their strong commitment to continue promoting the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Thailand to contribute to the socio-economic development of the two countries through the “Three Connectivity” strategy, including:

- Connecting the supply chains of the two countries, especially in mutually beneficial supporting industries such as: Petrochemicals, agriculture, machinery and electronic spare parts.

- Connecting the two countries' basic economic sectors, especially enhancing direct business links and exchanges between micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as with local entrepreneurs to promote cross-border economic activities at the local level;

- Connecting sustainable growth strategies between Vietnam's Green Growth Strategy and Thailand's Bio-Circular-Green Economy Model (BCG), contributing to helping the two countries achieve the goal of building a low-carbon, environmentally friendly society.

Strengthening Partnership for Development and People-to-People Exchange

13. The two Leaders expressed satisfaction with the development of technical and development cooperation; agreed to cooperate in water resources management in the Mekong River basin and cooperate more closely to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

14. The two leaders highly appreciated the results of bilateral cooperation in the fields of culture, education, tourism and people-to-people exchange, which have helped strengthen connections and increase understanding between the people of the two countries. The two sides recognized and appreciated the role of the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association and agreed to continue supporting the role of these two organizations in promoting and strengthening friendship between the people of the two countries. On that basis, the two sides committed to maximizing the framework of sister cities between localities of the two countries to promote increasingly deeper people-to-people exchanges, especially between the young generations of the two countries.

Strengthening Partnerships on Regional and International Issues

15. The two leaders emphasized the importance of Vietnam and Thailand closely coordinating their stances on issues of shared concern and interest within the framework of cooperation mechanisms in the Mekong Sub-region, regional and multilateral mechanisms of which both countries are members, such as the United Nations (UN), ASEAN, APEC, Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), Mekong River Commission (MRC) and other Mekong cooperation frameworks. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly appreciated Thailand's role as APEC Chair in 2022, while Prime Minister Prayut expressed his appreciation for Vietnam's full support.

16. The two leaders agreed that Viet Nam and Thailand will work closely to promote ASEAN unity, centrality and efforts in addressing emerging issues. The two leaders expressed their full support for ASEAN’s leading role in the Myanmar issue. They expressed their support for the implementation of the four areas of cooperation identified in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) and other relevant ASEAN initiatives, including promoting synergy among existing Mekong Sub-regional cooperation mechanisms and building the ASEAN Community. Viet Nam and Thailand also agreed to work closely in the effective implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

17. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, as well as the benefits of maintaining the South China Sea as a sea of ​​peace, stability and prosperity. The two sides emphasized their commitment to supporting the peaceful resolution of disputes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), with full respect for legal and diplomatic processes. The two sides emphasized the importance of fully and effectively implementing the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety. The two sides were encouraged by the progress of substantive negotiations aimed at early conclusion of an effective, substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, within a mutually agreed timeframe.

Vu Dung