On 28 March 2014, H.E. Mr. Panyarak Poolthup, Ambassador of Thailand to Vietnam paid a courtesy call to H.E. Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to introduce himself as a newly appointed Ambassador of Thailand to Vietnam. 

H.E. Mr. Pham Binh Minh congratulated H.E. Mr. Panyarak Poolthup on his appointment and for the flourishing bilateral relations between Thailand and Vietnam after both countries have elevated the relations to the level of ‘Strategic Partnership’ last year. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs hoped that both sides could convene the 3^rd Thailand-Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat so that the Plan of Action to Implement the Strategic Partnership could be signed in the earliest opportunity.  Also, H.E. the Ambassador was requested to push for the bilateral trade volume to reach 15 billion US Dollars in the year 2020. In doing so, the Vietnamese side would provide conducive business environment for the Thai private sector to enhance further business and investment for in Vietnam. 

H.E. Mr. Panyarak Poolthup, in turn, pledged to fully cooperate with the Vietnamese Government and related authorities to foster Strategic Partnership. He also shared the view expressed by H.E. the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs that the 3^rd Thailand-Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat should be convened and the Plan of Action to Implement the Strategic Partnership should be signed once Thailand has a new government.  H.E. the Ambassador praised the excellent cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand in multilateral fora including the United Nations and ASEAN and reassured that Thailand would do its best as the country coordinator for ASEAN-China relations especially in advancing the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. While agreeing to increase the bilateral trade volume to 15 billion US Dollars in 2020, H.E. the Ambassador stated that Thailand would be honored to receive the visit at the level of Head of State since such kind of visit was last held many years ago.