Vietnam and Thailand: Stronger when standing together.

The visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Thailand raises an interesting question: two economies with many similarities, if they knew how to stand side-by-side instead of competing, how much strength could they create?

The welcoming ceremony for General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife on their official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand - Photo: VNA

During talks on May 28th in Bangkok, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul affirmed that Vietnam is one of Thailand's top important partners in the region, while emphasizing that the two countries share many similarities and have the potential to become major global manufacturing hubs. This statement reflects how the Thai government views Vietnam in the current volatile global context.

When 1 + 1 can become 11

For many years, "Thailand" or "Thai people" evoked a range of emotions in Vietnamese people – from sports, rice, fruit, and consumer goods to attracting FDI. In Thailand, analysts have recently used the term "coopetition" – a portmantein of "cooperation" and "competition" – to describe the Vietnam-Thailand relationship and the strong rise of the Vietnamese economy .

This concept reflects both the similarities that can lead to competition in certain areas where both sides have strengths, and points to the need for practical cooperation to create greater power instead of falling into a zero-sum game.

When the two countries' relationship is elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025, what will open up is not only a new diplomatic framework but also the possibility of connecting two economies that are both similar and complementary.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Loan, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association, told Tuoi Tre newspaper that upgrading relations is "an important milestone" showing that "both sides trust each other more, strengthening cooperation in a deeper and broader way." This trust is a prerequisite for transforming geographical proximity, shared interests, and overlapping markets into a common strength.

Mr. Kulachet Dharachandra, Country Director of SCG Group (Thailand) - one of the businesses received by General Secretary and President To Lam on May 28 - succinctly but powerfully summarized: when the strengths of the two countries meet, the result "is not just 1+1=2, but can become 11".

Behind that statement lies a clear logic of cooperation: Thailand possesses strong industrial, technological, and supply chain expertise at both regional and global levels; while Vietnam has strong growth momentum, a competitive manufacturing base, and a young, highly adaptable workforce.

Mr. Loan said that without coordination and cooperation, the relationship between the two countries "will become competitive"; but if they know how to form alliances, partnerships, and jointly produce and do business, both sides can create more strength to find new markets, expand investment, and elevate their position. Harmonizing interests is the key to ensuring that any connection initiative goes the distance.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Data: THANH HIEN - Graphics: TUAN ANH

Promoting the "Three Connections"

That cooperative mindset has been translated into concrete action. The clearest evidence of this is the visit of General Secretary and President To Lam, in which the two sides adopted the Action Program to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the period 2026-2031, with many cooperation contents in the fields of defense, security, trade, investment, science and technology, infrastructure connectivity, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

According to the Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand, Pham Viet Hung, one of the focuses of this program is the "Three Connections" strategy: connecting supply chains, connecting businesses and localities, and connecting sustainable development strategies.

During talks with the Prime Minister of Thailand, General Secretary and President To Lam proposed that the two sides soon establish a joint working group to develop a plan and promote the effective implementation of this strategy – indicating that this is one of the highest priorities of bilateral cooperation.

If a concrete example is needed of how two economies can complement each other, the Long Son Petrochemical Complex (LSP) is a prime example.

According to Mr. Kulachet Dharachandra, this project directly contributes to the "Three Connections" strategy: at the supply chain level, LSP creates a stable source of petrochemical raw materials, reduces import dependence, and supports higher-value downstream industries; at the enterprise and local connection level, the project operates with approximately 1,000 highly skilled workers, more than 300 domestic suppliers (accounting for about 80% of the total number of suppliers), and more than 400 customers across various sectors; at the sustainable development level, ESG principles, energy efficiency, environmental technology, and community engagement are integrated into the operational structure.

"For SCG, Vietnam has become our 'second home' and one of the most important strategic centers in ASEAN. What gives us the greatest confidence is the dynamism, adaptability, and learning spirit of the Vietnamese people, especially the younger generation," Mr. Kulachet Dharachandra shared with Tuoi Tre newspaper .

What's noteworthy here isn't just the scale of capital or the number of projects, but the quality of the connection. When SCG invests an additional $500 million in the project to add ethane, promotes digitalization with Vietnamese partners like FPT, and focuses on energy efficiency and the circular economy, the message is clear: Vietnam-Thailand cooperation is not limited to individual purchases or investments, but is shifting towards jointly building a foundation for long-term competitiveness.

Mr. Kulachet Dharachandra emphasized the common goal "not just growth in scale, but growth in quality" - where industry, technology, sustainable development, and people all advance together, contributing to the development of each nation.

1+1=11 is not a slogan. It reflects the real needs of both countries. When those needs meet within a more trusting framework and a higher strategic vision, the Vietnam-Thailand addition is no longer just a story of two numbers standing next to each other.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul bids farewell to General Secretary and President To Lam at the airport - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH

During his official visit to Thailand on May 28, General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife met with the King and Queen of Thailand.

On the same day, the General Secretary and President also held talks with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, met with the Speaker of the Parliament and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, and received leaders of several major businesses in the country.

The packed schedule of activities throughout the day demonstrates the determination of both sides to make bilateral relations increasingly substantive and effective.

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DUY LINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/viet-nam-thai-lan-cung-manh-hon-khi-dung-chung-20260529075540637.htm