Thailand, Vietnam agree to boost ties

Thailand and Vietnam have agreed to upgrade their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership while expanding cooperation in various fields, according to a statement on the Thai government website. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra welcomed Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong who is on an official visit to Thailand from Tuesday to Thursday as a guest of the Thai government, said a press release of the Thai government on its website on Tuesday. During their meeting, the Thai premier said she highly values Nguen Phu Trong's visit, the first of its kind since former General Secretary Do Muoi's visit 20 years ago, as it is taking place when the two countries' relationship is being lifted to a strategic partnership. The two agreed to the establishment of a strategic partnership in a few major fields, such as economic cooperation, socio- cultural cooperation, and regional and international cooperation. They assigned relevant departments in both nations to coordinate in building an action plan and a tangible roadmap that will lead to the eventual signing of the strategic partnership by the two countries' ministers at a joint cabinet meeting later this year. The leaders also agreed to regularly exchange all-level delegations in the future to intensify their friendship and mutual understanding. Both expressed pleasure at the fine developments in the two countries' relations, especially in political, business fields and trade since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1976. They agreed to strive for an annual 20 percent increase in two- way trade to reach the goal of 15 billion U.S. dollars by 2020. They advised Thailand, Vietnam and other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to continue intensifying solidarity and cooperation to maintain the central role of the grouping in regional security structure and successfully build an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015. Vietnam's top party leader and his delegation will depart for home on Thursday.