Deputy FM Nguyen Manh Cuong: Enhancing Vietnam-Thailand relations to new heights
WVR - Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong gave an interview ahead of General Secretary and President To Lam's official visit to Thailand from May 27-29, 2026.
Latest
Could you please highlight the significant developments in Vietnam-Thailand relations recently, especially after the two countries elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?
Vietnam and Thailand are close neighbours with many shared interests in maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region. Over nearly 50 years since establishing diplomatic relations, the relationship between the two countries has been continuously strengthened and robustly developed, becoming one of the most dynamic and effective relationships within ASEAN.
 |
| Nguyen Manh Cuong, Member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. (Photo: Bao Chi) |
A particularly significant milestone was the elevation of the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025. This reflects the very high level of political trust between the two countries and demonstrates the shared determination of both sides' leaders to deepen the bilateral relationship in a substantive and effective manner in the new phase.
A notable highlight in Vietnam-Thailand relations is the increasingly solid political trust. Both sides regularly maintain high-level visits, contacts, cooperation mechanisms, and strategic exchanges across various fields. The joint Cabinet meeting mechanism at the Prime Ministerial level is a distinctive feature of the relationship, showcasing the close bond and coordination in promoting comprehensive cooperation.
Economic cooperation continues to be a bright spot. Thailand is currently Vietnam's largest trading partner within ASEAN, with bilateral trade turnover reaching over 22 billion USD in 2025.
The two economies are increasingly intertwined in the regional supply chain. Thailand is also one of the largest ASEAN investors in Vietnam, with numerous large-scale projects in energy, processing industries, retail, logistics, and infrastructure.
The two countries have significant potential for cooperation in developing supply chains, transportation connectivity, logistics, and sub-regional Mekong cooperation. With each country's strategically important geographical position, both sides are well-positioned to become connectivity hubs in mainland Southeast Asia.
Besides the economy, defense and security cooperation between the two countries is becoming more substantive and in-depth. Both sides closely coordinate in combating transnational crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybersecurity, and non-traditional security challenges. This significantly contributes to building trust and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment in the region.
Cultural, educational, tourism cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges are also thriving. The two countries currently have about 20 pairs of twinned provinces and cities. The Vietnamese community in Thailand serves as an important bridge of friendship between the two peoples. Notably, the Ho Chi Minh memorial sites in Thailand hold deep historical and emotional significance, contributing to nurturing the traditional friendship between the peoples of both countries.
On this foundation, the two countries are well-positioned to continue deepening and making the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership more substantive.
What new prospects and motivations are expected from General Secretary and President To Lam's official visit to Thailand for the bilateral relations in the future, Deputy Minister?
General Secretary and President To Lam's official visit to Thailand holds special significance. This is his first visit to an ASEAN country in his new capacity and takes place as the bilateral relationship has just been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The visit first demonstrates Vietnam's high regard for its relationship with Thailand and the Southeast Asian region. It is also an opportunity for the high-level leaders of both countries to have extensive discussions on major orientations to effectively implement the new cooperation framework, thereby creating additional momentum for bilateral relations in the future.
An important expectation is to continue to consolidate and deepen the political trust between the two countries. In the context of rapidly and complexly changing global and regional situations, strengthening strategic exchanges, coordinating positions, and maintaining high-level contacts are of great importance. This is the foundation for the two countries to continue expanding cooperation across all fields.
In terms of the economy, the visit is expected to open up new developments in trade, investment, logistics, and supply chain connectivity. Both sides have significant potential for cooperation in new fields such as digital transformation, green economy, circular economy, renewable energy, innovation, and industrial transformation. These are all areas aligned with the development strategies of both countries in the new phase.
The visit is also expected to further promote regional connectivity, especially in Mekong and ASEAN cooperation. Vietnam and Thailand both play important roles in promoting intra-ASEAN economic integration, enhancing infrastructure connectivity, trade, and people-to-people exchanges in the region.
Additionally, cultural, tourism cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges are expected to continue expanding. Strengthening aviation connectivity, tourism cooperation, youth, student, and local exchanges will contribute to building a sustainable social foundation for bilateral relations.
Both sides are also expected to continue closely coordinating at regional and international forums, especially within ASEAN, to contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.
It can be affirmed that with the foundation of a good friendship, high political trust, and many open cooperation potentials, this visit will create new momentum to further strengthen Vietnam-Thailand relations, aiming for new heights in the future.
