Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Ministerof Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ofForeign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara on October 26 agreed to work toelevate their countries’ strategic partnership to a new height.

At their talks in the Hanoi, Sonhailed the importance of his guest’s official visit to the extensivecooperation between the two countries as well as between the two foreignministries amid the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership.

Parnpree affirmed that Vietnam is a close friend and one of the leadingpartners of Thailand in the region, expressing his hope for stronger tiesbetween the two ministries.

Bothhost and guest expressed their delight at the countries’ increasingly extensiveand substantive cooperation in all fields on the basis of mutual respect,trust, and benefits.

They discussed orientations forcoordinating closely with both countries’ relevant ministries and sectors topromote the effective implementation of important cooperation areas based onthe action plan for carrying out the enhanced strategic partnership for 2022 -2027.

In particular, the two sides agreedto increase delegation exchanges at all levels and effectively implementbilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the joint cabinet meetings and theJoint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation. They concurred in working togetherto arrange an official visit to Vietnam by the Prime Minister of Thailand, whowill also join his Vietnamese counterpart to co-chair the fourth joint cabinet meeting.

They pledged to further enhancecooperation between the two foreign ministries, including considering theresumption of the consular consultation and the establishment of a hotlinebetween the directors of the ministries’ department for regional affairs toshare opinions on issued of common concern in a timely manner.

Interms of economy, trade and investment, the officials agreed to keep makingefforts to raise bilateral trade to 25 billion USD early by reducing tradebarriers, further opening their countries’ markets to each other’s goods,bolstering economic, infrastructure and scientific - technological connectivity,helping guarantee supply chains via implementing the “Three Connections”strategy, and strengthening ties in new areas such as digital economy,e-commerce, and green energy.

Theyvoiced their support for developing road and waterway transportation routes,increasing flights between Vietnam and Thailand, and step up the negotiationand signing of cooperation documents on other important fields likeagriculture, labour, and maritime affairs.

Expressingtheir support for the enhancement of defence and security ties, both ministersreaffirmed the commitment not to allow any individual or organisation to useone country’s territory to sabotage the other.

MinisterSon spoke highly of Thailand’s provision of conditions for opening the Vietnam Townand the centre for Vietnamese studies in Udon Thani province.

Heasked the two sides to maintain cooperation in preserving and promoting thevalues of the relic sites linked with late President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamesepagodas in Thailand, support the teaching of Thai and Vietnamese languages ineach other’s countries, and encourage the building of cooperative and twinrelations between the countries’ localities, thereby creating a solidfoundation for promoting people-to-people exchanges and business-to-businesslinks.

Talking about regional andinternational cooperation, both officials affirmed that Vietnam and Thailandwill coordinate closely at multilateral and regional mechanisms, work withother ASEAN countries to consolidate the solidarity, unity and centrality ofASEAN, and increase partnerships in developing the Mekong sub-region andmanaging and sustainably using the Mekong River’s water resources.

They affirmed the importance ofmaintaining peace, stability, safety, and security of navigation and overflightin the East Sea on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On this occasion, the Deputy PM andForeign Minister of Thailand invited Minister Son to pay an official visit tohis country and co-chair the fifth meeting of the Joint Committee for BilateralCooperation./.