During his visit to attend the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related summits in Vientiane (Laos), on the evening of October 9, 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

This is the first visit to Vietnam by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra since she took office and the first visit by a Thai Prime Minister to Vietnam in 11 years; and also the first joint Cabinet meeting of the two countries' Prime Ministers in 10 years.

This event contributes to strengthening political trust; it is an opportunity for both sides to review the progress of promoting cooperation in all fields in the recent past in order to deepen and substantiate the relationship in the upcoming era of cooperation and development.

In recent years, Vietnam-Thailand relations have been consolidated, developing rapidly and substantially in all areas with deep political trust, economic-trade-investment cooperation and security-defense being the highlights.

Political-diplomatic relations

Vietnam and Thailand are two neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, with similar cultures and a long-standing friendship. Since the two countries officially established diplomatic relations on August 6, 1976, the cooperative relationship between the two countries has grown rapidly in both breadth and depth, clearly demonstrating the spirit of the Vietnam-Thailand Enhanced Strategic Partnership.

After signing the establishment of diplomatic relations, in September 1978, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong officially visited Thailand. During this visit, the two sides issued a joint statement outlining the direction and creating the foundation for the relationship between the two countries.

Since 1993, overcoming the challenges of a difficult historical period, the relationship between the two countries has warmed up again. The two sides have resumed high-level visits, marked by the official visit to Thailand by General Secretary Do Muoi (October 1993) and the visit of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn (now King Rama X) to Vietnam (November 1992). In 1995, after Vietnam joined ASEAN, the Vietnam-Thailand relationship has overcome many challenges, been constantly consolidated and increasingly developed, especially since the two countries issued the Joint Statement on the Vietnam-Thailand Cooperation Framework in the first decade of the 21st century (February 2004).

The two countries maintain regular high-level contacts and effective bilateral cooperation mechanisms, contributing to strengthening bilateral relations.

The two countries upgraded their relationship to a “Strategic Partnership” in June 2013, becoming the first two ASEAN countries to establish a strategic partnership with each other. Then, in 2015, the two sides upgraded their relationship to an “Enhanced Strategic Partnership” to promote stronger and more comprehensive cooperation.

Since then, the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two countries has developed remarkably, achieving many important, substantive and effective achievements. Thailand attaches importance to consolidating and developing the good friendship and cooperation with Vietnam.

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Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan receives Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. (Photo: Van Diep/VNA)

Political cooperation has been promoted through mutual visits by high-level delegations and many new, substantive cooperation mechanisms have been established after the two countries upgraded their relations to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, such as the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation, Political, Security and Defense Dialogue, and Consular Consultations.

The two countries maintain regular high-level contacts and effective bilateral cooperation mechanisms, contributing to strengthening bilateral relations. Political cooperation is promoted through delegation exchanges and high-level contacts.

On the Vietnamese side, there have been recent high-level visits and contacts with Thailand, such as: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Thai Prime Minister Sretta Thavisin on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly in the United States (September 2023); Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a phone call with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the occasion of her inauguration as the 31st Prime Minister of Thailand (August 2024), and a bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the occasion of attending the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in Vientiane (Laos) (October 2024); National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man met with Thai National Assembly Chairman Wan Muhamad Noor Matha on the occasion of attending the 45th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45) in Laos (October 2024)...

On the Thai side, there were visits to Vietnam by: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara on an official visit to Vietnam (October 2023); Princess of Thailand Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on a working visit to Vietnam (August 2024); Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa on an official visit to Vietnam and attended the second ASEAN Future Forum (February 2025)...

In November 2022, the two sides signed the Action Program to implement the Enhanced Strategic Partnership for the 2022-2027 period.

The two sides maintain the cooperation mechanism of the Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation at the Foreign Minister level (5th session in April 2024) and the Political Consultation at the Deputy Foreign Minister level (10th session in September 2024).

Economic and trade cooperation

In terms of trade, Thailand is currently Vietnam's largest trading partner in ASEAN.

In 2024, total two-way trade turnover will reach more than 20.2 billion USD, up 6.6% compared to 2023; of which our exports will reach nearly 7.8 billion USD, up 8.3%; imports will reach more than 12.4 billion USD, up 5.1%.

Thailand currently has 761 valid projects with a total registered capital of more than 14.8 billion USD, ranking 9th out of 149 countries investing in Vietnam and 2nd among ASEAN countries investing in Vietnam (after Singapore).

In the first two months of 2025, the total two-way trade turnover reached 3.1 billion USD, up 6.2% over the same period in 2024, of which we exported 1.2 billion USD (down 8%) and imported 1.9 billion USD (up 17.8%).

In 2024, total two-way trade turnover will reach more than 20.2 billion USD, up 6.6% compared to 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Our high-value export items include crude oil; phones, computers, electronic products and components; means of transport and spare parts; iron and steel, agricultural and aquatic products... Our high-value import items include gasoline; computers, electronic products and components; complete automobiles, components and spare parts; machinery, equipment and spare parts; household electrical appliances and components; plastics, metals, chemicals...

Regarding investment, Thailand currently has 761 valid projects with a total registered capital of over 14.8 billion USD, ranking 9th out of 149 countries investing in Vietnam and 2nd among ASEAN countries investing in Vietnam (after Singapore). Thai investors mainly invest in the fields of manufacturing, processing, production, wind power, petrochemicals, real estate, wholesale and retail.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has 18 newly licensed investment projects in Thailand and 3 capital adjustment projects, with a total registered capital of 34.2 million USD, ranking 33rd out of 80 countries/territories with Vietnam's investment capital. The projects are mainly in the fields of manufacturing and processing industry, real estate business and wholesale and retail.

The leaders of the two countries agreed to promote the implementation of the "Three Connections" Strategy in three areas: Connecting supply chains; Connecting businesses and localities of the two countries; Connecting sustainable growth strategies.

The two sides maintain important cooperation mechanisms including the Joint Trade Committee (4th meeting in April 2022) and the Energy Forum (2nd meeting in October 2022).

Cooperation in other areas

Defense-security cooperation: The two sides effectively maintain bilateral mechanisms (High-level Dialogue on Crime Prevention and Security Cooperation, Defense Policy Dialogue); coordinate in fighting transnational crimes, training, air force and navy cooperation; maintain joint patrols at sea...

Regarding labor, the two sides are promoting the signing of a new Labor Recruitment Agreement (signed in 2015) to add more occupations for Vietnamese unskilled workers to be accepted to work in Thailand.

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(Photo: VNA)

Cooperation in tourism, culture, and people-to-people exchange has developed well. In 2023, more than 1,033,000 Vietnamese tourists visited Thailand and nearly 490,000 Thai tourists visited Vietnam.

In 2024, there will be more than 984,000 Vietnamese tourists visiting Thailand (ranked 10th, after China, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, India, Laos, Singapore, Russia and Taiwan) and more than 418,000 Thai tourists visiting Vietnam (ranked 9th, after South Korea, China, Taiwan, the United States, Japan, Malaysia, Cambodia and Australia).

The Thai government has recognized the legal status of the Vietnamese community in residence and work. In some localities, Vietnamese people have a certain role, position and prestige in society.

Thailand is promoting the “Six Countries, One Destination” tourism cooperation initiative. Currently, 20 provinces and cities in Vietnam have signed cooperation/twinning agreements with Thai localities.

Education and training cooperation: The Thai government is currently supporting Vietnamese universities to teach Thai, including: Hanoi National University (University of Foreign Languages, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi University), Ho Chi Minh City National University (University of Social Sciences and Humanities) and Danang University. Thailand also provides many long-term and short-term scholarships to teach Thai to Vietnamese students and lecturers in Thailand.

The Vietnamese community in Thailand has about 100,000 people, playing an important role as a bridge of solidarity and friendship between the people of the two countries.

Bringing Vietnam-Thailand relations to new heights

The visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra and a high-ranking delegation from the Royal Thai Government is an important milestone in the relationship between the two countries. This is the first official visit to Vietnam by a Thai Prime Minister in 11 years since the visit by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in 2014, taking place at a time when the two countries are looking forward to celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1976-2026).

In the context of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Thailand continuing to develop well, comprehensively and increasingly in depth in all fields, the visit is an important occasion for both sides to continue to develop that relationship to a new height, more substantive and effective.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung, during the visit, the two sides will hold the 4th Joint Cabinet Meeting, a mechanism with a very special name that demonstrates high interest and common determination to develop bilateral relations.

Under the co-chairmanship and direct guidance of the two Prime Ministers, the two sides will review and resolve emerging issues and determine directions for cooperation in all fields./.