50 years of Vietnam-Thailand relations

The Nation ( Thailand) recently published an article titled "50 Years of Vietnam-Thailand Relations: From the Foundation of Ho Chi Minh's Legacy to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," which emphasized that President Ho Chi Minh's humanistic legacy is a crucial foundation contributing to the formation and development of friendship between the two countries.

President Ho Chi Minh and nearly two years of activity in Thailand.

The article states that President Ho Chi Minh first visited Thailand in July 1928 with the aim of fostering patriotism among the Vietnamese expatriate community living and working there, thereby laying the foundation for intensifying the struggle against French colonialism in Vietnam.

During his nearly two years of activity in Thailand, he traveled through many places, including Bangkok, Ban Dong (Phichit), and several northeastern provinces such as Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani, Mukdahan, and Nong Khai.

The article in The Nation is titled "50 Years of Vietnam-Thailand Relations: From President Ho Chi Minh's Humanistic Foundation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership"

In late 1929, he left Thailand for Hong Kong (China). Around March 1930, he returned to northeastern Thailand to meet with Vietnamese officials, then went to Bangkok before leaving Thailand in early 1930.

Although his time living and working in Thailand was not long, the genuine affection and support of the Thai people left a deep impression on President Ho Chi Minh.

Therefore, wherever he went, President Ho Chi Minh always advised Vietnamese expatriates to work diligently, live honestly, abide by the law, and respect the customs and traditions of Thailand.

He particularly emphasized the importance of building solidarity between the Vietnamese community and the people of Thailand, while affirming the close relationship between the two countries.

President Ho Chi Minh. Photo courtesy of VNA.

Furthermore, President Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic philosophy of "making more friends and fewer enemies" is also one of the key factors that laid the foundation for a flexible, adaptable, and profoundly humane approach to international relations.

This principle emphasizes building trust, enhancing mutual understanding, and respecting differences, thereby expanding cooperation and minimizing conflict.

In the Thailand-Vietnam relationship, this philosophy is reflected in the emphasis on good neighborliness and the promotion of shared East Asian cultural values such as community spirit, hospitality, and ethical principles, together creating a solid foundation for long-term cooperation.

Accordingly, immediately after Pridi Banomyong came to power in Thailand in 1946, the Thai government implemented many practical activities to support Vietnam, especially in the field of foreign relations in the early period after gaining independence.

In August 1946, a representative office of the Vietnamese Government was established in Bangkok based on a letter of introduction signed by Acting President Huynh Thuc Khang on July 7, 1946.

This office was responsible for liaising with foreign governments and diplomatic missions, and also served as a liaison with the Vietnamese diaspora around the world, mobilizing support for the resistance struggle in the country.

In addition, the office has an information department that publishes documents in Vietnamese, Thai, and English for distribution to overseas Vietnamese communities, diplomatic agencies, and international organizations.

As a result, Vietnam's position and image gradually improved on the international stage, creating an important foundation for international support for the Vietnamese people's resistance struggles.

Clearer signals regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Thailand were given in a statement by Thai Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj on September 5, 1975, in which he emphasized that Thailand would continue to pursue a policy of friendship with its neighbors and wished to soon open a liaison office in Hanoi.

In August 1976, a Thai government delegation arrived in Hanoi for formal negotiations on establishing diplomatic relations. The negotiations took place in a frank, open, and mutually respectful atmosphere, although both sides experienced several tense debates before reaching a final agreement. On August 6, 1976, the two sides signed the "Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Vietnam and Thailand," marking the official establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Relations between Vietnam and Thailand truly flourished after Prime Minister Pham Van Dong's visit to Thailand in September 1978.

From Normalization to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Since 1989, the two countries began the process of normalization and made significant progress, especially after General Secretary Do Muoi's official visit to Thailand in October 1993. After Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995, bilateral relations continued to be strengthened and expanded.

In February 2004, the two countries issued a Joint Statement on the Vietnam-Thailand Cooperation Framework.

In particular, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to Thailand (June 25-27, 2013) upgraded bilateral relations to a "Strategic Partnership," making them the first two ASEAN member states to establish this framework.

The welcoming ceremony for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at Bangkok International Airport, Thailand, on the morning of June 25, 2013. Photo: VNA.

Subsequently, the Action Program for implementing the Strategic Partnership for the period 2014-2018 was signed during the official visit of the Prime Minister of Thailand to Vietnam in November 2014.

The upgrading of relations from Strategic Partnership (2013) to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2025) reflects the profound and substantive development of the bilateral relationship.

Since 2013, the two countries have continuously strengthened cooperation in the fields of politics, defense, economics, trade, and people-to-people exchanges. Bilateral trade has maintained stable growth, along with the expansion of high-level dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, creating a solid foundation for bilateral relations.

Bilateral trade volume has maintained stable growth, coupled with the expansion of high-level dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, creating a solid foundation for upgrading the relationship.

Alongside bilateral cooperation, Vietnam and Thailand coordinate closely in regional and international forums such as ASEAN, APEC, and the Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.

Within the ASEAN framework, the two countries promote intra-bloc solidarity and the Association's central role. At APEC, both sides actively contribute to initiatives on free trade and sustainable development. In the Mekong sub-regional cooperation, Vietnam and Thailand focus on water resource management, infrastructure development, and strengthening economic connectivity.

These efforts contribute to strengthening strategic trust and enhancing the international standing of both countries.

Building upon the foundation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, realizing the "Three Connectivity" vision is identified as a key direction for enhancing bilateral cooperation amidst the rapid economic restructuring of the region.

Firstly, supply chain connectivity focuses on linking supporting industries, particularly in the automotive and electronics sectors, to leverage the complementary strengths of each country, form flexible production networks, and reduce dependence on supply chains outside the region.

Secondly, the connection between production facilities and the business community plays a crucial role in expanding markets and promoting bilateral investment, aiming to achieve a trade turnover of $25 billion in the near future.

Finally, the interconnectedness of sustainable development strategies is demonstrated by the similarities between Vietnam's Green Growth Strategy and Thailand's Green-Circular-Economic (BCG) model, opening up prospects for extensive cooperation in areas such as clean energy, green manufacturing, and the circular economy.

This convergence in development orientation contributes to improved coordination in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable growth.

In the current context, the Vietnamese community in Thailand continues to play an important role, not only in the economy but also in people-to-people diplomacy, culture, and society. They serve as a crucial bridge in strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries. In the cultural field, the Vietnamese community plays a vital role in preserving and promoting Vietnamese cultural values in Thailand through organizing traditional festivals, teaching the Vietnamese language, and maintaining folk customs, traditions, and beliefs.

In the field of people-to-people diplomacy, the Vietnamese community in Thailand plays a bridging role in fostering friendship between the two countries. Through exchanges, cooperation, and mutual support, the community contributes to strengthening the long-standing traditional relationship between Vietnam and Thailand.

Vision for the next 50 years

According to an article in The Nation, over the next 50 years, Vietnam-Thailand relations are oriented towards comprehensive, sustainable, and flexible development. The two countries need to strengthen cooperation to ensure energy security, develop renewable energy, build interconnected regional power grids, and share energy storage technologies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Regarding climate change, the two countries need to prioritize coordinated water resource management – especially in the Mekong River basin – while jointly implementing initiatives to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.

At the same time, both countries should promote digital transformation through the development of digital infrastructure, the digital economy, and innovation, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in the digital age.

Furthermore, improving policy dialogue mechanisms, promoting public-private partnerships, and developing high-quality human resources will be key solutions contributing to the dynamic development of bilateral relations, while also making a positive contribution to peace and prosperity in the region.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/50-nam-quan-he-viet-nam-thai-lan-post2149101949.html