On May 16, General Secretary To Lam and President Luong Cuong met with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Hanoi, affirming that the elevation of Vietnam-Thailand relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership marks a historic milestone and opens a dynamic new chapter in bilateral ties.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn briefed Vietnam’s top leaders on the outcomes of the 4th Vietnam-Thailand Joint Cabinet Meeting, as well as key discussions and agreements - most notably the issuance of a Joint Statement to upgrade the relationship to its highest diplomatic level.

General Secretary To Lam stressed that Vietnam values its close neighborly ties with Thailand and strongly supports deepening multi-faceted cooperation. He called the elevation of the partnership “a historic event” and proposed the two countries maintain the effectiveness of the joint Cabinet mechanism, expand bilateral frameworks, and explore new avenues of cooperation.

He also emphasized strengthening economic linkages through the “Three Connectivity Strategy”: supply chain integration, innovation-driven growth, and partnerships in green and digital economies. He urged both countries to enhance cooperation in national defense and security, and to prevent individuals or organizations from using their territories to undermine the other.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra agreed with all proposals and expressed Thailand’s readiness to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, particularly in economic cooperation, security, and joint positions in regional and global forums.

President Luong Cuong: A deeper, more effective partnership

At the same meeting, President Luong Cuong praised the resumption of the joint Cabinet mechanism as a sign of determination to make the partnership more substantial and effective. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and multilateralism, and its commitment to global responsibility.

He called on both countries to support each other in multilateral forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations, and APEC, and requested that Thailand support the Vietnamese community living and working there while preserving Vietnamese cultural heritage sites in Thailand.

Bilateral trade target set at $25 billion

Later the same day, Prime Ministers Pham Minh Chinh and Paetongtarn Shinawatra co-chaired the Vietnam-Thailand Business Forum, reaffirming economic cooperation as a pillar of the upgraded partnership.

Thailand is currently Vietnam’s largest trade partner in ASEAN, with bilateral trade reaching over USD 20 billion in 2024, up 6.4% from the previous year. Thailand has 767 investment projects in Vietnam, with total registered capital of nearly USD 15 billion - ranking 9th among 150 countries and territories. In return, Vietnam has 22 projects in Thailand worth nearly USD 35 million.

Prime Minister Chinh stressed the partnership’s core values: stable peace, sustainable development, and shared prosperity. He praised Thai businesses’ contributions and reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to resolving their concerns on taxes, digital payments, and administrative procedures. He urged Thai firms to continue investing in Vietnam’s development journey.

Paetongtarn emphasized the need for greater collaboration amid global political and economic uncertainty. She highlighted that Thailand and Vietnam are the two largest economies in the Greater Mekong Subregion and drivers of ASEAN’s economic growth.

She expressed confidence in reaching the USD 25 billion trade target in the near term, citing strong value chain integration, with over 50% of trade involving raw materials and components supporting industries in both domestic and export markets.

She also emphasized the importance of supply chain connectivity in key sectors like petrochemicals, food, electronics, and logistics, and welcomed the launch of direct international flights from Vietnam to Northeast Thailand - a move expected to boost people-to-people ties and tourism.

Tran Thuong & Pham Hai