HCMC – Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to expand cooperation in clean energy, digital economy, green growth and logistics, with both sides also targeting annual bilateral trade of US$25 billion.
Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the results of their talks at a joint press briefing in Bangkok, reported the Vietnam News Agency.
Charnvirakul said the visit marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and would help deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation across all areas of the partnership and coordinate more closely in response to global economic uncertainty. They placed emphasis on boosting private-sector cooperation and increasing bilateral trade.
Future cooperation will focus on energy security, science and technology, innovation, biotechnology and agriculture, according to Charnvirakul. Both countries also agreed to promote economic development in the Mekong sub-region.
To Lam said the talks produced positive, comprehensive and substantive results. He noted that political trust between the two countries had strengthened, while defense and security cooperation had expanded.
Economic, trade and investment ties remained a key area of cooperation, alongside growing people-to-people exchanges and closer coordination at regional and international forums, particularly within ASEAN, he added.
The two countries agreed to step up high-level exchanges and improve the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms. They also pledged to maintain defense and security cooperation and strengthen efforts against transnational crime.
Both sides reaffirmed a commitment not to allow any individual or organization to use one country’s territory against the other. They also agreed to continue negotiations on bilateral legal cooperation agreements.
To Lam said the two countries would promote cooperation in high-tech agriculture and innovation while improving transportation and logistics links. He also highlighted plans to make better use of Mekong economic corridors, especially the East-West Economic Corridor, to facilitate trade and services flows.
The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation between localities, promote tourism and cultural exchanges, and expand educational and youth exchanges.
On regional and international issues, the leaders reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN unity and centrality. They agreed to coordinate more closely on issues related to peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.
To Lam also welcomed Thailand and Cambodia’s implementation of a ceasefire agreement and expressed hope that both countries would continue dialogue and resolve border disputes through peaceful measures.
