Vietnam, Thailand to Foster Parliament Ties, Raise Bilateral Trade to US$10B in 2010

Vietnam wants a closer relationship with the Thai Parliament and hopes that the two nations will strive to bring bilateral trade to US$10 billion next year, Vietnamese leaders told the visiting Speaker of the Thai Parliament, Chai Chidchod, in Hanoi.

 

Receiving the Thai Parliament President and House Speaker on July 21, Chairman of the National Assembly, Nguyen Phu Trong, said that Vietnam has prepared well to join and contribute to the 30^th ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) to be held in Thailand in August.

 

“Vietnam wishes for the Thai parliament and people to support Vietnam’s hosting of the AIPA presidency for the next term in 2010,” Trong told his guest.

 

Vietnam has established parliamentary relations with 150 nations worldwide and is seeking to deepen its ties with the parliaments, particularly those of ASEAN member nations, the Vietnamese legislator noted.

Despite the impacts of the global economic crisis, Vietnam-Thailand trade reached US$2.4 billion in the first half of 2009. Both nations are striving to bring the figure to US$10 billion next year.

 

Trong said his country would give more favorable conditions for Thai investors to do business in Vietnam.

 

On the same day, PM Nguyen Tan Dung and his Thai guest held talks focusing on rice production and processing and on cooperation among sub-Mekong nations in exploiting and protecting the river’s water resources to provide mutual benefits of both upstream and downstream residents. (The People, Labor)