Hanoi: Mr. Maris Sengiampong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, embarked on an official visit to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, engaging in bilateral discussions with Mr. Bui Thanh Son, Vietnam's Minister of Foreign Affairs. The discussions aimed to promote cooperation in trade, investment, and tourism between the two nations.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Maris emphasized the importance of collaboration over competition in the current global geopolitical climate. He proposed that both countries leverage their respective strengths to jointly produce goods that cater to global market demands. This initiative aligns with the upcoming 50th anniversary of Thai-Vietnamese relations, emphasizing cooperation at the people-to-people level and preparing for the visit of Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand's Prime Minister, to Vietnam later this year.
The Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed support for Thailand's efforts to combat scammers and transnational crimes and showed readiness to cooperate on environmental issues such as the PM2.5 dust problem and Mekong River Basin management. The discussions also touched upon Thailand's tourism strategy, which includes linking infrastructures by road, water, and air through the "Six Countries, One Destination" initiative, with plans to develop a concrete strategy before the Thai Prime Minister's official visit.
The Vietnamese Minister also acknowledged the significance of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Thailand and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), praising its completion after two years of negotiations. Additionally, he congratulated Thailand on the release of five Thai workers held hostage in Gaza.
Mr. Maris also met with the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam and Thai private sectors to discuss Thai investments in Vietnam, a key destination for Thai investors. The discussions focused on reducing business obstacles and fostering an investment-friendly atmosphere, given the close governmental relations and importance of economic diplomacy under current Thai leadership.
Vietnam, a significant player in ASEAN, aims for 8% GDP growth by 2025, aspiring to become a middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income developed nation by 2045. The Vietnamese government is implementing reforms to support economic growth, including developing advanced industries, digital transformation, and infrastructure enhancements to align with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Prominent Thai private sectors attending the discussions included GUNKUL, KBANK, Bangkok Bank, Central Retail Vietnam, AMATA, WHA, and Chance and Challenge.
Concluding his visit, Mr. Maris is scheduled to meet with Vietnam's Prime Minister to further discuss bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, and tourism. He will also attend the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2025, where he will deliver a vision statement on "Megatrends: Envisioning ASEAN and the World in 2035."