The agreement was reached during high-level talks in Hanoi on July 10 between Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva who made a visit to Vietnam the same day.

They said that the two countries should foster bilateral cooperation in the areas of their strengths, including agriculture, aquaculture, human resource development and transport.

They agreed to examine the existing cooperation mechanisms to make them more effective. They assigned their ministries and sectors to study and renew the organisation of their joint cabinet meetings and convene a session of the joint sub-committee for trade cooperation at the earliest possible time.

The two PMs affirmed that Vietnam and Thailand will continue to conduct joint patrols at sea and join hands to combat terrorism and trans-national crime.

They also affirmed that both countries do not allow any hostile forces to use their territories to do harm to each other and sabotage their fine relationship.    

Mr Dung reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of working closely with Thailand to lift their relations of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation to new heights.

Mr Vejjajiva spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in the Doi Moi (Renewal) process as well as its increasing role and position in the region and the world at large.

Both host and guest exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern and said that the two countries will cooperate closely to successfully meet the target of building a united and strong ASEAN community by 2015.

They said that Vietnam and Thailand will also work closely to increase the efficiency of cooperation within the framework of the Greater Mekong Sub-region, the East-West Corridor, and the Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) as well as between Mekong River countries and Japan and the US.

They agreed to cooperate with other countries in the Mekong River Basin in exploiting and protecting water resources of the river in order to ensure the long-term and legitimate interests of all countries upstream and downstream.

Prime Minister Vejjajiva invited Mr Dung to visit Thailand and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

In the evening, Mr Dung gave a banquet in honour of the Thai PM and his entourage. 

Party leader Nong Duc Manh (R) receives the Thai PM in Hanoi

Later the same day, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh received the Thai PM who briefed the Party leader on the results of his talks with PM Nguyen Tan Dung and praised Vietnam’s achievements during the Doi Moi (Renewal) and international integration process. Mr Vejjajiva expressed his belief that Vietnam will soon overcome global financial and economic woes and make greater achievements in national development.

He said that Thailand considers Vietnam one of its strategic partners and wants to increase cooperation with Vietnam in various areas, including politics, economics, trade, investment, security, tourism, transport, culture, education and sports.

For his part, Mr Manh thanked the Thai government for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to integrate well into local communities.

He welcomed the results of talks between the two PMs and affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to developing friendly ties with Thailand. He expressed his belief that the relations of friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand will further develop in the future in the interests of the two nations and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the rest of the world. 

He conveyed his best regards to King Bhumibol Adulyadej and other members of the court.