Thai Prime Minister Pursues Enhanced Economic Ties in Hanoi
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul met with Vietnamese President To Lam at Tonkin Palace, following the Vietnamese leader’s recent official visit to Thailand. Both nations have characterized the recent interactions as highly productive, with a shared commitment to accelerating the implementation of previously agreed-upon measures.
President Lam expressed his gratitude for the warm reception extended to him during his trip to Bangkok. Prime Minister Anutin noted that these discussions had already spurred significant business collaborations and fostered stronger public goodwill between the two countries.
Underscoring Thailand’s dedication to deepening its relationship with Vietnam, Prime Minister Anutin was joined by nine cabinet ministers and the commanders of all military branches during the meeting.
Economic Cooperation Takes Center Stage
Economic collaboration was a focal point of the discussions. The two nations reaffirmed their support for the Thailand–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also agreed to advance the “Three Connects” strategy through enhanced coordination among their respective ministries and agencies, utilizing mechanisms such as the Joint Cabinet Retreat.
President Lam proposed an ambitious goal of increasing bilateral trade to $25 billion, with a long-term vision of expanding it to $50 billion. Thailand has fully endorsed this initiative, with a particular emphasis on green economic development and achieving net-zero emissions targets.
“I am confident that the $25 billion target can be achieved within this year, and potentially rise to US$30 billion in the near future,” Prime Minister Anutin stated.
Security and Law Enforcement Discussions
Discussions also encompassed security cooperation and law enforcement. Vietnam put forward proposals to strengthen collaborative mechanisms between the armed forces, security agencies, and maritime authorities of both countries. Exploratory talks are also underway regarding an extradition treaty and more robust collaboration on addressing illegal residency issues.
Thailand reiterated its commitment to not permitting its territory to be used for activities detrimental to friendly nations and pledged full cooperation in enforcing relevant laws.
Addressing Business Concerns and Future Development
In response to concerns raised by Thai businesses operating in Vietnam, Prime Minister Anutin highlighted issues related to regulatory changes, legal enforcement, and outstanding contractual payments. President Lam assured Thai investors of Vietnam’s commitment, recognizing their significant contributions to the country’s economic growth.
He emphasized that laws would not be applied retroactively and that Vietnamese agencies would address the concerns of investors.
Broader Regional and Global Initiatives
Regarding Thailand’s relationship with Cambodia, Prime Minister Anutin described it as a pivotal moment for future ties, stressing that peaceful and sustainable solutions necessitate political will, trust, and constructive dialogue.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Anutin promoted Thailand’s Land Bridge project as a potential alternative logistics route aimed at enhancing global supply-chain resilience.
As a gesture of friendship and environmental cooperation, Thailand pledged to provide Vietnam with 12 cranes this year, symbolizing a shared vision of “moving forward and growing together.”
Defense and Tourism Cooperation
In separate engagements, defense ministers agreed to collaborate on cybersecurity and development initiatives. Tourism officials also set objectives for improving connectivity and attracting visitors from key markets in anticipation of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
