The “Meet Thailand in Da Nang 2024” conference opened in the central city on Friday, drawing the participation of over 300 delegates from central and local agencies, leading organisations and corporations, and businesses in Viet Nam and Thailand.

Delegates at the "Meet Thailand in Da Nang 2024" on September 27, 2024. Photo: T.P

The event was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Viet Nam, in collaboration with the Thai Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City and the municipal People’s Committee.

In her remarks at the opening ceremony of the conference, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam Nguyen Minh Hang emphasised that Thailand is the largest trade partner and the second largest foreign investor of Viet Nam in ASEAN. Moreover, Viet Nam and Thailand are the two countries with the largest number of twinned localities among ASEAN member nations.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang delivering her opening speech at the conference "Meeting Thailand in Da Nang 2024". Photo: T.P

She added the “Meet Thailand in Da Nang 2024” conference was another step forward to implement the 2022-2027 Action Plan for the Viet Nam-Thailand Enhanced Strategic Partnership and the “Three Connections” strategy (connecting supply chains of supporting industries, organising business exchanges at the local level, and connecting Thailand's bio-economic - circular economic - green economic policies with Viet Nam's green growth strategy).

She highlighted that the event was an opportunity for the two countries to promote and facilitate investment in each country's priority areas such as digital economy, green economy, high-tech industries.

According to Deputy Minister Hang, Da Nang boasted a strategic geographical location, and was the eastern gateway to the Pacific Ocean of the East-West Economic Corridor connecting with Laos, Northeast Thailand and Myanmar.

The Vietnamese Government will continue to offer the best possible facilitation to Thai businesses to operate effectively in Da Nang and Viet Nam as a whole, she affirmed.

Thai Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Wiraka Moodhitaporn speaking at the conference. Photo: T.P

Speaking at the conference, Thai Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Wiraka Moodhitaporn stated that the conference offered a valuable opportunity to foster trade and investment cooperation, and connect supply chains to support not only local economies but also tourism linkage between Thailand and Viet Nam. This, thereby, brought practical benefits to the people of each country for the prosperous development of the two countries and ASEAN.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ho Ky Minh expressed that it was an honour for Da Nang to be chosen by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thai Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City as the host for the "Meet Thailand in Da Nang" conference.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee Ho Ky Minh informing delegates about a number of special mechanisms and policies for Da Nang's development at the conference. Photo: T.P

He voiced his hope that more Thai partners and businesses will explore investment and business opportunities in Da Nang.

The city authorities are committed to creating the most favourable conditions for foreign investors, including Thai enterprises, to operate efficiently and live peacefully in the locality, he said.

The conference featured two discussion sessions focusing on sustainable tourism development, and fostering investment connectivity and supply chain integration.

At the event, policymakers and business delegates discussed and proposed strategic solutions to enhance involvement in supply chains and promote the production and consumption of goods, laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation between Thai and Vietnamese stakeholders.

Reporting by THANH PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG