On 15 February 2017, H.E. Mrs. Busaya Mathelin, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, co-chaired the 6th Thailand – Vietnam Political Consultation Group (PCG) Meeting with H.E. Mr. Dang Dinh Quy, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand in Bangkok.

          At the Meeting, the Permanent Secretary and the Vice Minister had discussed various issues of Thailand - Vietnam bilateral relations, particularly key cooperation under the Action Plan for Strategic Partnership between Thailand and Vietnam. These include the cooperation on political and security, promotion of trade and investment to achieve the USD 20,000 US million trade target by 2020, the prevention of IUU fishing,  the revitalisation of the technical cooperation framework, which includes the application of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) to support sustainable development.  Both sides also discussed and exchanged views over the enhancement of land and maritime transport connectivity, ASEAN and Mekong Sub-regional cooperation.

          The Vietnamese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs also paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, during which both sides re-affirmed their commitments to further enhance Thailand – Vietnam bilateral relations and exchanged views on various regional and international issues. 

          The outcome of this Political Consultation Group will be further concretized at the preparations for the planned Official Visit to Thailand by Prime Minister of Vietnam and will be expanded and deepened at the Fourth Joint Cabinet Retreat in Vietnam this year.

          The Political Consultation Group between Thailand and Vietnam was set up in 2010 aiming to be a forum for the two Foreign Ministries to have regular dialogue to follow up extensive areas of cooperation between the two countries as well as to exchange views and opinion on key issues in the region.  The visit to Bangkok, Thailand, by H.E. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam to attend the PCG meeting was an added value to the MFA-to-MFA cooperation and to the existing friendly bilateral relations between Thailand and Vietnam.