Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh receives Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai. (Photo: CPV)
August 2020 reports two important events in the relationship between Vietnam and Thailand. At the regional level, August 8th was ASEAN Day which was celebrated by all ASEAN member countries, especially Vietnam as ASEAN Chair 2020. On the bilateral level, August 6th marked 44 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Vietnam. Through many historical periods, the two countries officially became "strategic partners" in 2013, and were considered the first two countries in ASEAN to establish this relationship. In 2019, the two sides raised the level to "strengthened strategic partner" in order to promote stronger and more comprehensive cooperation.
The economic relations between Thailand and Vietnam have seen strong development amid global economic instability. In the first 6 months of 2020, Thailand continued to invest USD1.58 billion in Vietnam, ranking second among foreign direct investors in Vietnam. More than 200 Thai companies are doing business in Vietnam, many of which are based in Ho Chi Minh city.
So far, Thailand is one of the top 10 foreign investors in Vietnam with a total investment of more than USD12.3 billion, contributing to creating jobs for workers and boosting economic development. In trade, Thailand has been Vietnam's largest trading partner in ASEAN for many years, with bilateral import-export turnover of about USD17.5 billion in 2019.
Vietnam and Thailand have many cultural similarities; from food, tropical climate and fruits to agricultural products. More than 100,000 Vietnamese Thai people living in Thailand also play an important role as a bridge to support this relationship. They are now successful businesspersons and contributors to transnational economic development.
The young generation also helps promote multicultural understanding between the two countries. Both Thai and Vietnamese are tonal languages, taught as official or elective subjects at universities of both countries. The year 2020 is also the year marking the 20th anniversary of teaching the Thai language in Vietnam.
At the local level, there are 13 paired relationships between Vietnamese and Thai localities, helping to strengthen links between the two countries on trade, cultural and educational cooperation.
“I would like to commend Vietnam, as ASEAN President, for its strong and timely response to the COVID-19 pandemic by hosting the ASEAN + 3 Special Summit on COVID-19 response, organized online for the first time, on April 14,” said Mr. Apirat Sugondhabhirom. “This really reaffirms the current theme ‘Cohesive and responsive ASEAN’ of the ASEAN community.”