President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (Photo: VNA)The President paid an official visit to Thailand and attended the 29th Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting from November 16-19.
Son told the press that the trip has contributed tomaterialising the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress that is prioritising the comprehensivedevelopment of relations with neighbouring countries and the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Thailand.
This is the first visit to Thailand by Phuc in his capacityas the President of Vietnam, and also the first by a high-ranking Vietnameseleader to Thailand after the 13th National Party Congress and the COVID-19outbreak.
The visit is of significance as it marks an important milestonein the Vietnam-Thailand enhanced strategic partnership, creating a new impulsefor the bilateral cooperation.
It also carries the message on the resolve by the twocountries leaders to make the partnership stronger, more comprehensive and moreeffective, the minister stressed.
President Phuc was the first foreign leader to make anofficial visit to Thailand ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders’Meeting, Son said, noting that Thai leaders spoke highly of the visit that wasintended to create a favourable premise to elevate the bilateral ties, bothbilaterally and multilaterally, in the context of the two countries workingtowards the 10th anniversary of the enhanced strategic partnershipin 2023.
Thailand warmly and solemnly welcomed the Vietnamese delegation with a 21-gun salute.
During his visit, President Phuc held talks withPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and had meetings with King MahaVajiralongkorn and President of the National Assembly Chuan Leekpai.
He received the Chairman of the Vietnam - ThailandFriendship Association, visited the Vietnamese community in Thailand, and met withleaders of a number of leading Thai businesses and corporations investing inVietnam, among other activities.
Regarding outcomes of the visit, Son said the twosides reached high consensus on orientations to promote the bilateralcooperation more strongly and effectively, matching the potential, strength anddemand of each country.
They will intensify all-level delegation exchange and workto effectively implement bilateral mechanisms, especially joint Cabinet meetings to be co-chaired by the two PMs.
At the end of the visit, the two sides issued a joint statement,opening up a new chapter for a stronger strategic partnership, for commonpeace, stability and prosperity, and signed a number of cooperation documents.
The leaders consented to enhance economic links andcommitted to bringing the bilateral trade to 25 billion USD by 2025, making it morebalanced through measures to facilitate market access and reduce tradelimitations.
The visit once again affirmed that Vietnam andThailand are strategic, reliable partners in many regional and international issuesof shared concern, Son said.
The two sides agreed to closely coordinate at regionaland international forums, especially the United Nations, APEC, ASEAN and Mekongsubregion cooperation forums.
The leaders concurred to uphold ASEAN’s commonstance on the East Sea, and maintain peace, stability, safety and freedom ofnavigation and aviation in the waters on the basis of respecting internationallaw and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).
According to the minister, the visit has brought aboutpragmatic interests to the two countries, actively contributing to building astrong ASEAN Community, for peace, stability and cooperation in the region andthe world.
Asked about results of the APEC Economic Leaders’Meeting, Son said the event, the first in-person meeting of the APEC leadersafter a four-year hiatus, has created momentum for the forum.
The meeting and the joint statement issued by theleaders have carried a strong message of cooperation, dialogue andmultilateralism.
The meeting has laid the foundation for theconnectivity between APEC and partners and other regional forums, Son said.
The minister underlined that President Phuc and the Vietnamese delegation had activelyand proactively contributed to all activities of the event.
Apart from a retreat session, the President attended dialogueswith guests and businesspeople and delivered a speech at the APEC CEO Summit. Heand representatives of ministries and agencies also had meetings with leadersof economies and leading groups in the world.
Vietnam also actively coordinated with host Thailandand other members in preparation for the meeting, as well as the building of documents,Son added.
The Vietnamese delegation raised new initiatives andideas on the development and orientations of APEC in the current challengingperiod, Son said, noting that Vietnam’s proposals were lauded by other membersand included in the documents.
Vietnam also shared its experience in green transformationand digital transformation and major relevant policies.
Notably, Vietnam worked together with others to create more communication channels in order to ease the differences among the APEC member economies regarding the complicated situation in the world and the region, seek a commonvoice and maintain their consensus, Son said./.
VNA
