On March 11-13, 2010, Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association invited Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association to visit and meet in a joint meeting in Khon Kaen, North-East Thailand. It was the first meeting of this kind initiated by Thai Association.
The 16-member Vietnamese delegation was headed by Dr. Ta Quang Ngoc, President of Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association and former Minister of Fisheries. Members of the Vietnamese delegation grouped themselves at Dong Ha city (Quang Tri) and took the land route along Highway 9 through Lao Bao border gate and were welcomed at Mukdahan border gate by Thai counterparts.
The joint meeting took place in Khon Kaen on March 12. Present on the Thai side were Vice President of Thailand-Vietnam Association (the President, Marshal Sombun Rahong absent for health reason), Secretary General and members. Also attending the meeting were Thai Ambassador to Vietnam, Director General of Consular Department, experts of Asian Department 2, former Thai Ambassador to Vietnam now consultant of the Association and representatives of six provinces in North-East Thailand.
After the exchange of greetings, the two sides highly appreciated the joint meeting and considered it as an initiative to upgrade the people’s diplomacy.
At present, the two countries maintain good bilateral relations with exchanges of visits at all levels. It is even more favourable now with land routes. According to Vice President of Thailand-Vietnam Association, Thailand ranks 9th among trade partners of Vietnam with two-way trade of US$5.9 in 2008, and 10th in investment with 216 projects and total capital of US$5.7 billion.
In tourism, with the opening of the land route, the number of tourists increases sharply. In 2008, 334,000 Vietnamese visited Thailand and 321,000 Thais visited Vietnam.
In education, Thailand has big demand in training Vietnamese language for Thai students. Therefore various forms of trainings should be developed
At the meeting, the Thai delegation presented its vision and 2010 plan with emphasis on intensified activities of people’s diplomacy and social organizations of the two countries for better understanding and closer friendship and cooperation in various fields like economic, cultural, education.
Consequently, One, the two sides will increase public education for mutual understanding. Vietnam will organize delegations to visit Thailand and Thailand will do the same including the attendance of the 1000th anniversary of Hanoi and 65th National Day of Vietnam. Two, training Vietnamese languages to Thai staff members. In addition to the training of Vietnamese language, universities in North-East Thailand will also receive Vietnamese students and exchange teachers with Vietnam. Thai Association has encouraged its members to study Vietnamese and grant scholarships to Thai students to study Vietnamese in Vietnam. Thai Association will also conduct a survey on Highway 9 to develop its economic potentials, expand trade relations and organize Summer camping between two countries. The cultural exchange between young people of the two countries will greatly contribute to the future of the ASEAN community.
On behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, Dr. Ta Quang Ngoc thanked the host for excellent reception and highly appreciated the vision and 2010 plan of the Thai Association. He expressed the conviction that the two Associations can increase the cooperation of related authorities and organizations, business associations and chambers of commerce, as business communities are a mighty force of cooperation.
Overseas Vietnamese in Thailand, especially those in North-East Thailand, are an important bridge of friendship and must be developed fully, Dr. Ngoc added.
Si Cu
Vietnamese
