Vietnam and Thailand Boost Cooperation through Friendship Associations

Coordinate with the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association to organize activities that strengthen connection and friendly relations between the two countries, particularly in promoting business exchanges and cooperation. This is a key focus of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association in the last months of 2023 and early 2024, as agreed upon during the Expanded Executive Committee meeting in Hanoi.

During the meeting, Nguyen Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council and Chairman of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association, emphasized that at the 12th Conference between the Executive Committee of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association and the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association, which took place in Da Nang on September 11, the leaders of the two associations agreed to create a joint report on upcoming activities for coordination and implementation.

At the Expanded Executive Committee meeting of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association. Photo: Thanh Luan

The purpose of this meeting is to summarize the recent activities of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association and plan for future activities. The report will be sent to the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association for joint coordination and implementation.

Upcoming activities of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association include celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic partnership and organizing personal friendship activities.

The association is also prepared to collaborate and participate in joint activities with the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association to strengthen the connection and friendly cooperation between the two countries, particularly in promoting business cooperation.

In terms of educational cooperation, the association will continue to send students from certain localities to study at Mechai Bamboo School in Thailand. By the end of the year, three students from Ha Nam, Long An, and Bac Lieu provinces will be selected to participate in the scholarship program sponsored by Retail Group.

In December, the central association will collaborate with the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association of Thua Thien Hue province to organize a scientific conference on “Strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand on green economic development and education and training,” with the participation of the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association.

The association will also work with Hai Phong City to establish the city’s Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association.

The Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association will participate in the Kathina robe offering ceremony organized by the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association on November 21 in Ba Ria Vung Tau Province. In December 2023, the leaders of the two friendship associations will attend the 2023 Thai Silk Fashion Exhibition held in Bangkok.

During the meeting, the Executive Committee members suggested that the association continue to act as a bridge to promote cultural and spiritual exchanges, attract overseas Vietnamese to participate in the association’s work, and promote exchanges and economic and trade cooperation.

Chairman Nguyen Van Thanh emphasized that the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association will make greater efforts to contribute to the existing friendship and cooperation, with a focus on promoting cooperation between potential businesses of the two countries, especially young businesses and startups.

The Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association burns incense to commemorate the victims of the mini apartment fire on Khuong Ha Street (Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi) at the Hoa Lam Vien relic site (Dong Anh, Hanoi). Photo: Thanh Luan

Vibrant activities in 2023

Reporting at the expanded Executive Committee meeting, Ambassador Nguyen Duy Hung, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association, stated that after the fifth congress in December 2022, the association has strengthened coordination and cooperation with the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association to promote people-to-people exchanges.

In September, the second Vietnam People’s Friendship Festival and the 12th conference of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association and the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association took place in Da Nang.

In March 2023, the association welcomed and worked with a delegation from the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association. The delegation had working meetings with various organizations in Vietnam to explore cooperation opportunities in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, young businesses, and startups of both countries.

In August 2023, the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association delegation, led by Chairman Nguyen Van Thanh, visited Thailand and attended the Thailand Business Forum – Vietnam. The association also connected relevant agencies of the two countries to promote cooperation in fields such as education, digital technology, and business connection.

Local cooperation is a priority for the two friendship associations. Thai Nguyen Province and Udon Thani Province of Thailand have upgraded their relationship to become sister provinces. The associations have coordinated with the leaders of Thai Nguyen Province to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the sister provinces of Thai Nguyen and Udon Thani to promote cooperation, including the exchange of local products and tourism exchanges for young businesses.

In terms of educational cooperation, FPT University signed a MOU with Khon Kaen University, Chulalongkorn University, and King Mongkut’s University of Technology to facilitate student and lecturer exchanges, joint research, training programs, seminars, and discussions. The Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association has also arranged for two students from Lam Dong Province to study at Mechai Bamboo School with scholarships from the C.P Group.

In the field of health, the two associations are discussing a project to sponsor medical equipment for a district hospital in Nghe An Province. They are also working on organizing volunteer ophthalmologist teams to examine and treat eye diseases for people in remote areas.