This morning at the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a formal welcome ceremony for Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

This marks Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s first official visit to Vietnam since taking office in August 2024, and also the first visit by a Thai Prime Minister to Vietnam in over a decade.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh personally greeted his Thai counterpart at her vehicle and invited her onto the ceremonial platform. As the national flags of both countries waved overhead, the national anthems of Thailand and Vietnam were played in a solemn atmosphere.

Accompanied by rousing military music, Prime Minister Chinh invited Prime Minister Shinawatra to review the Honor Guard of the Vietnam People’s Army. The two leaders then introduced the high-level delegates from both nations and observed a parade by the Honor Guard.

Following the ceremony, both prime ministers traveled to the Government Office for a private meeting and co-chaired the 4th Vietnam - Thailand Joint Cabinet Retreat (JCR).

Prior to the official welcome, Prime Minister Shinawatra laid a wreath at the Martyrs’ Memorial on Bac Son Street and visited President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum.

Vietnam and Thailand established diplomatic relations in August 1976 and upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2013. The two nations will mark 50 years of diplomatic ties in 2026.

Thailand is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, with bilateral trade reaching over USD 20.2 billion in 2024, a 6.6% increase compared to 2023.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the “Three Connectivity” strategy, focusing on supply chains, enterprise partnerships, and regional cooperation, as well as joint sustainable growth strategies.

Tran Thuong