Friendship Associations Work to Boost Vietnam-Thailand People-to-People Exchange

The two sides’ delegates pose for a photo. Source: Embassy of Vietnam in Thailand

The 11th annual joint meeting of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association and the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association took place in Bangkok on August 24 to evaluate the achieved results and set out action plans for the coming time.

The meeting was conducted under the chairmanship of President of Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association Sanan Angubolkul and President of Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association Ta Quang Ngoc, with the participation of the two Executive Committee members.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phan Chi Thanh was a guest at the meeting.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Ngoc with the participation of leaders of Vietnam-Thai Friendship Associations in provinces including Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Da Nang, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Tri, Kien Giang, Nam Dinh, Vinh Phuc.

President of Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association Ta Quang Ngoc co-chairs the joint meeting. Photo: VNA

Held again in a live format after nearly three years of hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this event is an opportunity for the two countries’ friendship association to summarize the achievements achieved in the past time, and at the same time set out specific action plans for cooperation activities between the two associations in the coming time.

Reviewing the more than 10 years of cooperation, Ngoc mentioned four major cooperation contents agreed by the two associations in the first conference held in Khon Kaen province in 2009, covering investment, trade, tourism and people-to-people exchange, and culture-tourism.

Ngoc said that during the past time, the above four contents have achieved encouraging achievements and made significant contributions to people-to-people diplomatic cooperation as well as the friendly cooperation between the two countries. country. In particular, trade and investment relations between the two countries have grown strongly with a trade turnover of USD 18.8 billion in 2021. Thailand ranks 9th out of 139 countries and territories with capital invest in Vietnam.

Educational and cultural exchange activities have also developed strongly. However, Ngoc also said that the development in the cooperation relationship between the two associations is still not commensurate with the potential. He called on the two levels of associations to strive for further development in the next 10 years.

President of the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association Sanan Angubolkul. Photo: NDO

For his part, the President of the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association Sanan Angubolkul also agreed to affirm the encouraging development in cooperation as the association’s contributions to the development of the friendship between Thailand – Vietnam in the past.

The Thai Government is always interested in developing a comprehensive, deep and increasingly substantive relationship between the two countries, Sanan affirmed, emphasizing that 18 pairs of twin provinces, including the model pair of Udon Thani and Bac Giang provinces, are an important premise to promote people-to-people exchanges and economic development cooperation between the two countries.

He highly appreciated the strong development of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association in recent years, not only at the national level but also at the provincial and city levels.

Speaking at the conference, Ambassador Phan Chi Thanh expressed his joy when the conference was held again after nearly three years of hiatus. The ambassador appreciated the contributions of the two friendship associations to the development of relations between the two countries in recent years.

The diplomat also thanked President Sanan and the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association for supporting medical equipment for Vietnam in the fight against Covid-19.

He suggested that the two friendship associations in the coming time continue to maintain and promote their positions and roles well, act as a bridge to strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and actively contribute to strengthening friendship. existing commitment as well as strategic partnership between the two countries; well implement people-to-people exchange activities.

In addition, continuing to organize activities to promote cooperation in all aspects to contribute to the development of bilateral relations between Vietnam and Thailand in the coming time.

At the joint meeting. Photo: VNA

At the joint meeting, the delegates discussed the plan of activities in the coming time. At the same time, they also discussed how to implement cooperation activities to be more substantive.

Specifically, in the coming time, the two associations will continue to coordinate to organize friendship exchange activities on major anniversaries as well as promote cooperation in fields, such as business connection, cooperation and cooperation. Local cooperation, expanding student exchange, medical support for Nghe An province.

The two sides agreed that in the coming time, they will try to promote cooperation activities, fulfill the role of bridge in people-to-people relations, and make practical contributions to the friendship and cooperation between the two sides. two countries.

In particular, during the visit of the delegation of the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association to Vietnam in September, the two sides will discuss together to promote the cooperation between the two friendship associations in the coming time into reality. more fruitful.

After the conference, the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association delegation continued to visit and work in a number of localities in Thailand.

The Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association delegation led by Ta Quang Ngoc, former minister of Fisheries, president of the Association visited the Embassy on the afternoon of August 23. Source: Embassy of Vietnam in Thailand

Earlier, the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association delegation visited the Vietnamese embassy on the afternoon of August 23. The delegates and the embassy discussed people-to-people exchange activities, strengthening the friendship between the two countries.