Partnership with Vietnam continues to remain top priority: Thai Ambassador
WVR - On the occasion of the 47th anniversary of diplomatic relations and 10 years of Strategic Partnership between Thailand and Vietnam, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura shared about the highlights of Vietnam-Thailand relations and potentials for bilateral cooperation.
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| Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura. (Photo: Thai Embassy in Hanoi) |
Could Ambassador please give your assessments of the development of Vietnam-Thailand relations in recent years, both bilaterally and within ASEAN?
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1976, Thailand-Vietnam relations have profoundly flourished over the years, based on mutual benefits, trust and respect. Our cooperation in politics and security, economy, trade, investment, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges has made a substantive progress.
After years of cordial and fruitful cooperation, two countries agreed to elevate their ties to “strategic partnership” in 2013 and to “Strengthened Strategic Partnership” in 2019. Even though our ties were challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, both sides managed to maintain our strategic momentum and dynamism through high-level meetings and dialogues.
For instance, the 4th Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) between Thailand and Vietnam was held via videoconference in November 2021. The President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, paid an official visit to Thailand in November 2022. Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand paid a visit to Vietnam to attend 9th Thailand-Vietnam Political Consultation Group in June 2023.
This year also marks 10 anniversary of the establishment Strategic Partnership of the two countries. The Royal Thai Embassy in Hanoi is actively engaging with Vietnamese counterparts to launch activities throughout the year in commemoration of the auspicious event.
Fast-forward to today, although Thailand is now forming a new government, our foreign policy and partnership with Vietnam will continue to remain a top priority. Viet Nam should be among the first countries to be visited by our new Prime Minister in order to reaffirm Strengthened Strategic Partnership.
| "Although Thailand is now forming a new government, our foreign policy and partnership with Vietnam will continue to remain a top priority". |
Economic cooperation has been one of the most important cornerstones of Thailand-Vietnam relations. Both sides have witnessed their economic ties become connected more than ever before with our trade value surpassing 21.19 billion USD in 2022.
This accounts for over one third of the trade volume between Thailand and the whole Mekong sub-region, emphasizing strong economic linkages and interdependence between two countries. With a view to achieve the bilateral trade target of 25 billion USD in 2025, both sides will prioritize “Three Connects” strategy, which was agreed by two leaders in 2022, including Connecting our supply chains, Connecting our grassroots economies, and Connecting our sustainable growth strategies.
For over a decade, Vietnam has been the top investment destination for Thai investors. The establishment of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (ThaiCham) in December 2021 also represents recent positive development of Thai investment in Vietnam. Thailand is currently the 9th largest foreign investor in Vietnam, with accumulated investment of more than 13 billion USD. Thai investment projects focus is wide ranging from farming, renewable energy, packaging, retail, distribution, petrochemicals, foodstuff processing, plastic products, to energy drinks.
Moreover, it is widely known that Thai investors are not only high quality investors but also characterised by strong social responsibilities. They attach great importance to promoting and contributing to the welfare of society and the environment in Vietnamese community. I am confident that, with continuous efforts of two countries in reduction of trade barriers, facilitation of trade and investment, enhancing connectivity for transport of goods and services, Thailand and Vietnam will be able to realize their trade target as planned. As both Thailand and Vietnam share common vision and aspiration in achieving sustainable economic growth, they can work together in synergizing Thailand’s BCG and Viet Nam’s Green Growth strategies.
On people-to-people connectivity, both countries have worked together to further promote people-to-people ties as it help lay a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation. Thailand-Vietnam and Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Associations have played an important role in promoting and strengthening the peoples’ friendship between our two countries. Through the years, cooperation in education, culture, sustainable development has been strengthened to enhance human resource capacity in support of their economies and societies.
In multilateral fora, as important partners in Mekong and ASEAN, both countries have continued to closely cooperate and support each other in sub-regional, regional and international forum. Thailand and Vietnam share common vision in constructively contributing to peace, security and prosperity of the region and beyond.
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| The 1st Meet Thailand has contributed to the successful implementation of the “Three Connects” Strategy as agreed by our Leaders. (Photo: QT) |
In recent times, you have been making efforts in connecting the locals between two countries, would you like to tell us about your wishes and desires through this activity?
The Royal Thai Embassy, Hanoi has attached great importance to enhancing local-to-local cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam as it will help solidify bilateral relations and comprehensive partnership.
Since 2013, the Embassy has carried out “Emerging Leaders Project”, where Vietnamese policy makers from the central and local government are invited to visit Thailand to engage with high-level and local government representatives of Thailand, to promote trust and better understanding between two countries at all levels, particularly at local level.
Sister cities framework has also become an important tool in connecting Thai provinces with provinces of Vietnam in various fields of mutual interests. We have established 15 sister cities which serve as important platform to promote exchange of visits, economic cooperation, and cultural exchanges.
In addition, the promotion of Thailand-Vietnam local connectivity will further advance linkages and exchanges between grassroots economies of two countries. For instance, both sides have opportunities to exchange knowledge and best practices of Thailand’s OTOP goods and Vietnam's OCOP products.
Moreover, the promotion of local-to-local cooperation has directly involved people-to-people exchanges as both countries have shared historical and cultural roots. Thailand is a home to more than 100.000 Thai people of Vietnamese descent. Our people-to-people cooperation includes the teaching of Vietnamese and Thai languages in respective countries, education, cultural exchanges, and tourism. We are committed to promoting people-to-people to deepen mutual understanding and appreciation of the bilateral relations.
The first “Meet Thailand” conference took place successfully, what are your assessments of the results of this event and its potential?
Thanks to the strong support and effective collaboration from the Department of Local Diplomacy Facilitation of MOFA Vietnam and the People’s Committee of Quang Tri Province, the 1st Meet Thailand event has been successfully organised during 3-4 August 2023 in Quang Tri Province.
The event attracted approximately 500 participants from both Thailand and Vietnam, including leaders from Mukdahan Province and Ubon Ratchathani Province, as well as more than 100 representatives from Thai conglomerates and small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. At this event, we were able to materalise almost 98 business matching pairs.
Taken place on the auspicious occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between Thailand and Vietnam, the 1st Meet Thailand has contributed to the successful implementation of the “Three Connects” Strategy as agreed by our Leaders, namely - supply chain connectivity, business exchanges at the local-to-local level, and linkages between Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) and Vietnam’s green growth strategy.
The event has increased Thai investors’ awareness of economic potential of Quang Tri province, especially its endeavours to become the logistics and energy hub of Central Vietnam, which could then lead to more investment opportunities from Thailand.
Whereas, the business matching organised on the margins of the 1st Meet Thailand has complemented our joint efforts in reaching the trade target of 25 billion USD by 2025. We look forward to working with the Department of Local Diplomacy Facilitation, MOFA Vietnam to organise future Meet Thailand events in the coming years throughout different parts of Viet Nam, particularly in the country’s Northern and Central Regions.
Could Ambassador please share your impressions of Vietnam and your desires to push our relations in the coming times?
Vietnam is a country characterized by political stability and policy consistency, rapid economic growth, and abundant natural resources and cultural heritages. With all these advantages, Vietnam has managed to maintain continuity of its foreign policy towards external relations and become one of top country for foreign investment destination and tourist destination in the region.
| "Vietnam is a country full of potential and opportunities. Therefore, there is still ample room for Thailand and Vietnam to work together to tap these potentials in moving bilateral relations forward". |
From my perspective, Vietnam is a country full of potential and opportunities. Therefore, there is still ample room for Thailand and Vietnam to work together to tap these potentials in moving bilateral relations forward.
Looking ahead, I think we can do more to elevate our relations and partnership to the next level. For political and security pillar, we should promote more frequent exchanges of high-level visits and dialogue to further strengthen mutual trust and understanding between two countries.
The Embassy will also continue its work in fostering linkages between provinces of Thailand and provinces of Vietnam, especially those in Northern and Central region of Vietnam, to build trust at the local level.
On economic front, both sides should intensify our efforts in reducing trade barriers, facilitate cross-border trade and transit of goods to third countries, to achieve the trade target of 25 billion USD in 2025. On people-to-people ties, we need to encourage provinces of both countries to fully utilise existing sister city frameworks.
As today’s international landscape is filled with uncertainties and rising rivalry between major powers, Thailand and Vietnam should bolster their collaboration at subregional framework, particularly, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) and ACMECS, in addressing the issues of common concern. Moreover, both sides should work hand-in-hand to further strengthen ASEAN’s centrality and solidarity to avoid severe consequences of these challenges on the region and beyond.
