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PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Thai Ambassador to Viet Nam Manopchai Vongphakdi, Ha Noi, June 14, 2016 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu
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Meeting with Thai Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi, PM Phuc assessed that the bilateral ties have been promoted, especially the two-way trade ties fetched US$11 billion and Thai investors poured over US$7 billion into Viet Nam.
The host leader expected that the trade linkages would touch US$20 billion before 2020.
“The two countries are two out of the world’s three biggest rice exporters. Hence, it is necessary for us to work together to bring about benefits for our people”, said PM Phuc.
He also recommended Viet Nam and Thailand spur connectivity in other areas especially employment as Thailand has high demand for labor and Viet Nam owns good labor force.
PM Phuc suggested the two sides promote people-to-people exchanges; set up a hotline to timely handle emerging maritime issues and effectively manage and use Mekong River water resources.
For his part, Thai Ambassdor Manopchai Vongphakdi announced that the two-way trade amounted to US$3 billion in the first three months and was estimated at US$13 billion in 2016.
Some Thai retailers are interested in Viet Nam and hope to generate benefits for the two countries, said Mr. Manopchai Vongphakdi.
According to the Ambassador, the two countries are celebrating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties with a string of cultural events. He was convinced that the number of tourists between the two countries would reach 1 million in 2016.
Meeting Malaysian Ambassador M. Zamruni Khalid, the Government chief affirmed that Viet Nam always treasures its strategic partnership with Malaysia and wants to make it stronger.
The Viet Nam-Malaysia action plan for 2016-2018 should soon be put in place and agreements on the transfer and extradition of the convicted, aviation service, education and legal support should be sealed to serve cooperative activities, he suggested.
The host leader underlined the necessity to form a deputy ministerial-level defense dialogue mechanism, a joint patrol method, and a hotline to step up fishery affiliation, search and rescue operations and the combat against pirates.
The fifth meeting of the Joint Committee on economic, scientific and technological cooperation should be convened in this third quarter, he noted, expressing his hope that the Malaysian Government will support Vietnamese businesses’ investments in its country.
Regarding the issue of Vietnamese workers in Malaysia, PM Phuc proposed the two sides cooperate in handling emerging issues to ensure the workers’ rights and interests and encourage their contributions to the host country’s socio-economic development.
He hoped the two countries’ close collaboration and mutual support at multilateral forums in the region and the world will continue.
In reply, Ambassador M. Zamruni Khalid said his country is working hard to complete the two countries’ 2016-2018 action plan.
He took the occasion to seek the Vietnamese Government’s support for Malaysian enterprises to do business in Viet Nam./.
By Kim Loan
