On 28 March 2023, Mr. Chatchai Viriyavejakul, Director – General of the Department of East Asian Affairs, held meetings with representatives from the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam in Ha Noi to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between Thailand and Viet Nam in all dimensions.

In his meeting with Mr. Nguyen Trong Kien, Director – General of Southeast Asia, South Asia and South Pacific, Commission for External Relations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CEV), both sides discussed ways to advance Thailand – Viet Nam relations and agreed that the official visit to Thailand of Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, Secretary – General of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, in 2013 was a significant milestone and lifted the bilateral relations to Strategic Partnership. This year, both sides plan to organise events in Viet Nam and Thailand to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of Strategic Partnership, which would include exchange of high-level visits, especially the 4th Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR) to be held in Viet Nam.

Both sides discussed other areas of cooperation, including people-to-people, cultural and education connectivities, and praised contributions of Thai -Vietnamese communities in Thailand as a ‘bridge’ to connect the two countries. Both sides also agreed to promote more learning of Thai language in Viet Nam.

In his meeting with Mr. Pham Hung Tam, Director – General of the Southeast Asia, South Asia and South Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, both sides discussed concrete follow-up of outcomes of the official visit of former President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Thailand in November 2022.

Both sides discussed plans to enhance Thailand – Viet Nam relations in 2023, which include exchange of high-level visits and full utitlisation of bilateral mechanisms. Both sides also exchanged views on regional developments of common interest and agreed to closely coordinate their approaches, with the aim of promoting ASEAN’s cohesiveness, centrality and effectiveness.