President Truong Tan Sang hosted a reception for Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thanasak Patimapragorn in Ha Noi on March 20, during which he stated that Viet Nam treasures the cooperative relationship with Thailand.

President Truong Tan Sang receives Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thanasak Patimapragorn

Lauding the outcomes of the meeting of the Joint Committee on bilateral cooperation, he expressed delight at the growing ties between the two counties.

The President thanked the Thai side for the attention to the Vietnamese community in Thailand, saying that he hopes a bilateral labour deal will be signed soon.

Noting that the economic partnership between the two countries is developing with many Thai big players investing in Viet Nam, he said he believes that the Viet Nam-Thailand strategic partnership will thrive in the coming time.

He also praised Thailand’s role in the ASEAN community, and called on the country to raise its voice and take practical actions together with other members of the association, to build a prosperous ASEAN of unity in diversity.

Thanasak Patimapragorn said during the freshly-ended meeting of the Joint Committee on bilateral cooperation, both sides reviewed their cooperation in all fields and mapped out orientations for future cooperation, adding that they are resolved to sign an agreement on labour soon.

The two countries will work together to organise activities to mark the 40^th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2016, he said.

Thailand , as the coordinator for the ASEAN-China relations, will actively coordinate with relevant parties to speed up substantive consultations for a Code of Conduct in the Bien Dong (East Sea) , he pledged. He also vowed that his country will work with other ASEAN members in maintaining ASEAN’s central and leading role in the settling of strategic matters in the region.