President Nguyen Xuan Phuc. (Photo: VNA) President Phuc, his spouse, and a high-rankingdelegation of Vietnam will pay an official visit to Thailand and attend the29th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok from November16-19.
This is made at the invitation of Thai Prime MinisterPrayut Chan-o-cha.
Asia-Pacific and APEC remain importantpriorities in Vietnam’s foreign strategy and advocacy of fostering andadvancing multilateral diplomacy, contributing to protecting and promotingsecurity interests of APEC.
Vietnam-Thailand enhanced strategic partnership thriving
Over the past years, especially amid the pandemic,the enhanced strategic partnership has been constantly developing.
Thailand attaches importance to and wishes to continuouslyconsolidate and enhance its fine cooperation and friendship with Vietnam.
In 2021 – the year marking the 45th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (August 6, 1976), the twocountries coordinated in organising a range of meaningful activities inpolitics, economy and culture, while stepping up the communication work toraise public awareness of the relationship.
The two sides also maintained high-levelactivities and cooperation mechanisms between the Governments as well as ministriesand agencies.
Thailand has remained Vietnam’s biggest tradepartner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with two-waytrade hitting a record 18.8 billion USD last year, up 18% year-on-year. In thefirst nine months of this year, the figure stood at 16.1 billion USD, a rise of17.2% from the same period last year, of which Vietnam exported 5.6 billion USDworth of goods to Thailand, up 26.9%.
Thailand has remained Vietnam’s biggest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with two-way trade hitting a record 18.8 billion USD last year, up 18% year-on-year. (Photo: VNA) The Thai projects mainly focus on processing-manufacturing,production, power, gas and water distribution, real estate, retail andwholesale.
Meanwhile, Vietnam counts 17 projects worth 32.8million USD in Thailand, ranking 33rd out of the 79 countries andterritories that have poured capital in the country, mainly in processing-manufacturing,real estate, wholesale and retail.
Cooperation in other spheres like national defenceand security, cross-border crime combat and education-training has also madeprogress.
The Thai government presented Vietnam with 10,000COVID-19 test kits and 300,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine. Vietnam also providedmedical equipment valued at 50,000 USD to Thailand.
Collaboration in labour, tourism and culture, aswell as people-to-people exchange has also made strides over the past time.
In the first half of this year, Vietnam welcomed39,679 visitors from Thailand, while Vietnamese tourists to Thailand numbered130,000.
Eighteen cities and provinces of Vietnam have setup twinning relationship or cooperative ties with Thai localities. About100,000 Vietnamese are living, working and studying in Thailand.
The two sides have also closely coordinated atregional and international forums. Regarding the East Sea issue, Thailand hasshown its support for ASEAN’s common stance on settling disputes by peacefulmeasures, placing importance to restoring trust and confidence between regionalcountries to create an environment of peace, stability and sustainable development,and accelerating the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the East Sea (DOC) and the building of a Code of Conduct in the EastSea (COC).
The two sides are scheduled to sign a number ofcooperation documents during the Vietnamese leader’s visit.
Vietnam’sactive engagement, contributions to APEC
Vietnam officially became a member of APEC at the10th APEC Ministerial Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on November 15, 1998,raising the forum membership to 21.
Its joining has been viewed as a milestone in the implementation of Vietnam’s foreign policy of openness,diversification and multilateralisation of relations and international economicintegration.
Over the past 24 years, Vietnam has actively and positivelycontributed to APEC, for peace, stability, cooperation and connectivity in theregion, and maintaining APEC’s role as a leading connection mechanism inAsia-Pacific.
Vietnam is among the very few economies that have successfullyassumed the role of APEC host (in 2006 and 2017).
The country is also among the most active members ofAPEC in proposing initiatives and projects, with more than 100 projects in differentfields, many of them have been highly valued for their pragmatism, especiallythose in sustainable, inclusive development, personnel development in thedigital era, digital economy, food security, climate change response, women’sempowerment and urban and rural area development, among others.
In 2016-2018, Vietnam performed the role of the Chairand Vice Chair of 18 committees and working groups of APEC and the APEC BusinessAdvisory Council (ABAC).
Since playing the host of APEC 2017, Vietnam has continuedto engage and contribute to APEC cooperation, and worked to push ahead with thematerialisation of important results of APEC 2017, particularly its initiativeon building the APEC Vision 2040.
In 2022, Vietnam has made further contributions toactivities and common concern of APEC, played an active role in realising theAotearoa Plan of Action, which brings to life the APEC Vision 2040, and carriedforward major outcomes of APEC 2017.
President Phuc is scheduled to attend and deliver aspeech at the APEC CEO Summit and attend a number of meetings during the APECEconomic Leaders' Week in Thailand./.
Vietnam is among the very few economies that have successfullyassumed the role of APEC host (in 2006 and 2017).
The country is also among the most active members ofAPEC in proposing initiatives and projects, with more than 100 projects in differentfields, many of them have been highly valued for their pragmatism, especiallythose in sustainable, inclusive development, personnel development in thedigital era, digital economy, food security, climate change response, women’sempowerment and urban and rural area development, among others.
In 2016-2018, Vietnam performed the role of the Chairand Vice Chair of 18 committees and working groups of APEC and the APEC BusinessAdvisory Council (ABAC).
Since playing the host of APEC 2017, Vietnam has continuedto engage and contribute to APEC cooperation, and worked to push ahead with thematerialisation of important results of APEC 2017, particularly its initiativeon building the APEC Vision 2040.
In 2022, Vietnam has made further contributions toactivities and common concern of APEC, played an active role in realising theAotearoa Plan of Action, which brings to life the APEC Vision 2040, and carriedforward major outcomes of APEC 2017.
President Phuc is scheduled to attend and deliver aspeech at the APEC CEO Summit and attend a number of meetings during the APECEconomic Leaders' Week in Thailand./.
VNA
