Vietnamese leaders promote ties with Thailand
Ha Noi, March 7 (VNA)-- President Tran Duc Luong and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai told visiting Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai in Ha Noi today, March 7, that Viet Nam would always attach importance to enhancing the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Thailand. They said also that the two countries should work harder to boost bilateral ties for mutual and regional benefit.
At a reception for the Thai Foreign Minister this afternoon, President Luong said Viet Nam treasured the Thailand-Vietnam friendship and cooperation and that it had been broadened and deepened since the two countries established diplomatic ties 25 years ago.
"The friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance for development between our two nations have been developing smoothly, benefiting stability and peace in the region," he said.
When receiving the Thai Foreign Minister, who is making his first official visit to Viet Nam, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai said the two countries should bolster the multi-faceted cooperation either on bilateral basis or in the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, agreements.
He said that in addition to taking measures to increase two-way trade, both should continue cooperating in a programme to develop the "East-West corridor" so as to help people in the region promote socio-economic development and improve their living standards.
Nr. Khai emphasized that Viet Nam would do its best to make the Viet Nam-Thailand border in particular and the common borders of ASEAN countries in general zones of peace and stability.
Mr.Sathirathai thanked both the President and Prime Minister for their warm welcomed and expressed his confidence that the bilateral friendship and cooperation in diplomacy, commerce and investment between the neighbouring countries would improve and expand to include effective cooperation in exporting rice, fishing and road construction.--VNA
