Oanda asia pacific

Vietnam, UK set upward trajectory for next 10 years

October 1, 2020 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – Hanoi hopes trade link will support its export-driven economy while London is trying to secure trade deals ahead of the transition period after Brexit.

Vietnam and the UK have agreed refresh and strengthen their strategic partnership and set the framework for forging ahead in the next decade.

Vietnam and the UK look to forge ahead the partnership in the next decade. Photo: MOFA

The two sides adopted a joint declaration at a meeting between Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on September 30 during the British diplomat’s visit to Hanoi, the first by a European politician to Vietnam since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The declaration, which marks a milestone of 10 years of the Vietnam-UK Strategic Partnership, outlines the UK and Vietnam’s commitment to further strengthening the bilateral partnership.

It includes (1) deepening bilateral trade and investment, and pursuing more open trade through global and regional economic integration; (2) co-operating to support sustainable economic growth, and to combat the urgent challenges presented by climate change; (3) working together on shared security challenges through peace-keeping operations, military healthcare and training and maritime security; (4) enhancing ties in education, vocational training, higher education, particularly in the field of science and technology; (5) enhancing bilateral cooperation in defense and security and to combat serious and organized crime; (6) promoting people-to-people links, equal rights, including promoting gender equality and tackling modern slavery; and (7) committing to a closer coordination through multilateral fora, including the United Nations and within the framework of ASEAN.

Trade deal dominates the visit

To prepare for partnership in the next 10 years, the two sides highlighted the importance of a bilateral trade agreement that dominates the talks between UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and his counterpart Pham Binh Minh, and between the UK Foreign Secretary and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 30.

Mr. Phuc said “Vietnam considers the UK a major trading partner in Europe and in the world”. He noted that a free trade deal with Britain, once it takes effect, would “help both countries boost economic recovery in post Covid-19 period.”

In reality, both sides are looking to strengthen trade ties. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect in August, but Brexit leaves the UK out of that agreement.

“We have secured Vietnam’s public support for the UK joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership,” Mr. Raab wrote on Twitter. “This is a significant step in taking the UK-Vietnam economic relationship to the next level, and demonstrating the U.K.’s commitment and value to the region.”

The UK attempts to secure trade deals ahead of the ending of a transition period in December for Brexit from the European Union, its closest trading partner, while Vietnam hopes the trade link will help its post-pandemic economic recovery.

In 2019, the two-way trade hit US$6.6 billion while British investment in Vietnam reached US$3.7 billion.

Mr. Raab stressed the importance of Vietnam in the Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Vietnam, the only country in Southeast Asia to post economic growth this year as forecast by ADB, has signed more than a dozen free trade agreements, including one with the European Union and an 11-country CPTPP deal that slashes tariffs across much of the Asia-Pacific.

During the Vietnam visit, Mr. Raab said his country is committed to working with the region on issues like maritime security — a likely reference to the disputed South China Sea. He also held a conference call with ASEAN foreign ministers while in Hanoi.

Vietnam willing to share experience with UK on CPTPP accession

September 19, 2020 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – The UK looks to focus on trade with the dynamic Asia-Pacific region, including Vietnam.

As a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Vietnam is willing to share its experience on CPTPP accession with the UK, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. Photo: MOFA

At the ministry’s regular press conference on September 17, the spokesperson stressed that the CPTPP is a high-quality free trade agreement with comprehensive commitments to promoting economic-trade cooperation among member countries and trade liberalization towards open and rules-based trade in the region.

She underlined that CPTPP member countries have adopted procedures for joining the pact, and economies interested in the pact should meet its high standards and follow admission process.

Earlier, on September 9, the UK’s Department for International Trade (DIT) announced that the UK has taken a major step in the process of joining CPTPP.

International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss, alongside the current chair of the CPTPP Commission, Mexican Economy Minister Graciela Márquez, opened discussions between senior UK trade officials and Chief Negotiators from all 11 members of the Partnership to discuss potential UK’s incorporation into the deal.

This is the first time the UK has met with Chief Negotiators from all 11 members of the Partnership to discuss UK admission, and the first time CPTPP members have had such a discussion with a country seeking membership since the Partnership was created in 2018.

The UK has held preparatory conversations with all CPTPP members. If the UK decides to apply, it will enter into a formal accession negotiation with all member states.

This meeting follows major progress in negotiations between the UK and Japan, the beginning of negotiations with Australia and New Zealand, and the resumption of negotiations with Canada, as the UK looks to focus on trade with the dynamic Asia-Pacific region. CPTPP membership also provides an opportunity to expand trade links with key partners in the Americas.

The CPTPP is a free trade agreement among Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

Once fully implemented, the 11 countries will form a trading bloc representing 495 million consumers and 13.5% of global GDP, according to the Canadian government. If the UK were to join, that share of global GDP would rise to about 16%.

The UK left the European Union early this year but the main terms of its membership remain in place during a transition period until the end of this year. Both the UK and EU hope to negotiate a new free trade deal between them by the end of the year, according to Reuters.

On August 6, the CPTPP Commission’s third meeting ended with the approval of a ministerial joint statement reiterating the members’ commitment to back trade liberalization, and multilateral trade. The next meeting of the CPTPP Commission is scheduled for 2021 in Japan.

UK foreign minister seeks trade deal in Vietnam visit

September 30, 2020 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – Both Vietnam and the UK are looking for a trade deal after Brexit.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab is scheduled to visit Vietnam from September 29 – 30 to hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh, with a trade deal at the top of the agenda ahead of the ending of the transition period for Britain’s exit from the European Union this year, Nikkei Asia reported.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to seek a trade deal with Vietnam in two-day visit. Photo: Reuters.

Britain hopes to strengthen economic ties with Asia-Pacific countries and expand trade beyond Europe after Brexit.

Vietnam approved a free trade deal with the EU in June and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement came into effect in August. Without a new bilateral trade deal with Vietnam, Britain faces higher tariffs from January 2020.

Additionally, Britain is also seeking to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), an 11-member multilateral trade pact that Vietnam is a member of.

After reaching an economic partnership agreement with Japan earlier this month, UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss told Nikkei that London would accelerate talks with CPTPP members. “We have not yet confirmed our timeline for formal application, but any final application decision we make will depend on the progress of bilateral negotiations with CPTPP members,” she said.

The UK is set to engage in individual closed-door meetings with the framework’s existing members, which include Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile and Brunei.

Vietnam is also keen to push an FTA with the UK as Covid-19 weighs on the export-driven economy. For this year, the country targets an economic growth of 2.5%, significantly lower than the previous forecast of 5% in May before a resurgence of the virus in July.

The two foreign ministers will be discussing collaboration in the fight against Covid-19. On the security front, Mr. Raab is expected to support efforts in maintaining peace, security and stability, as well as respect for international law in the South China Sea, where several countries have made territorial claims.

Vietnam and the UK set up diplomatic relations in September 1973 and upgraded their ties to Strategic Partnership in 2010.

Apart from the UK, Vietnam is also hoping for other trade deals, including with the US.

Lodgis Hospitality’s long-term vision and invesment strategy for vietnam’s tourism market

March 2, 2021 by english.thesaigontimes.vn

Lodgis Hospitality’s long-term vision and invesment strategy for vietnam’s tourism market

Lodgis Hospitality, the investment partnership between the leading global private equity firm Warburg Pincus and Vietnam’s leading investment manager, VinaCapital, is focused on Vietnam’s tourism industry, with the strategic aim to support the development of Vietnam as an international tourism destination by delivering a range of high-quality hospitality real estate developments and services.

Vietnam – a timeless charm

Vietnam – a truly fascinating country, offers a 3,260km coastline, connecting the North and South with white-sand beaches. Beyond its significant coast, the country boasts overlapping ranges of mountains, primeval forests, and world famous caves. The destination is also known for its rich history, deep culture and arts, and unique street food cuisine. More than its diverse natural landscape, Vietnam also has vibrant cosmopolitan cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, each with its own distinct ambience and rhythm. Hanoi offers a traditional setting with heritage dating back 1,000 years. Ho Chi Minh City is a high-energy urban and business center with skyscrapers and a bustling streetscape. There are also the idyllic landscapes of the Vietnamese countryside and craft villages. These include bountiful fruit orchards across the Mekong Delta; narrow Hoi An streets adorned with bright red Bougainvillea trellises of ancient yellow houses; and, the terraced paddy fields in Sapa.

Vietnam and its timeless beauty.

Vietnam has become one of the top destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, attracting tourists from all over the world. The U.S – based Go Overseas website ranked Vietnam 8th in its list of top 10 travel destinations for 2019, saying the nation is “filled with beauty at every turn”. As a home to eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, Vietnam was also rated as one of the 10 most unique destinations in Southeast Asia in 2019 by The Quarterly Tourism Monitor, while Condé Nast Traveler ranked Vietnam at 9th out of 20 favorite destinations of 2020.

Factors that accelerate Vietnamese tourism into an economic juggernaut

Prior to 2020, the global demand for travel and tourism was booming around the world, with growth of roughly 4 percent per annum expected over the next decade (2019-2029). In addition, Vietnam’s GDP growth, young population, and rapidly expanding middle class are factors driving tourism. According to World Banks statistics, between 2002 and 2018, GDP per capita in Vietnam increased by 2.7 times, while real GDP grew by an estimated 7 percent in 2019 – one of the fastest growth rates in the region. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Vietnam’s GDP per capita ranks 5th in ASEAN, reaching US$5,212 by 2025.

Demographic change with a population of 96.2 million in 2019 is expected to increase to 120 million by 2050. Moreover, the proportion of the young population under 35 is around 55.5% according to the Census Report 2019; while Vietnam’s new middle class is expected to reach 26% of total population by 2026 – all these factors will drive robust demand for tourism. Domestic tourism has experienced an excellent surge – a four-fold increase in the number of domestic traveler-trips, from 20.5 million in 2008 to 80 million in 2018. Generally speaking, in the period 2015-2019, the tourism industry had significant growth rate of 22.7%. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2019 Tourism Competitiveness Index (WEF), Vietnam ranked 32nd globally (out of 120 countries) in terms of quantity and attractiveness of natural resources and culture, and 3rd in Southeast Asia (after Indonesia and Thailand).

The direct contribution of tourism to GDP is also increasing. If in 2015, tourism contributed 6.3% to the national GDP, the rate in 2019 was 9.2%. Tourism is gradually aiming to become a key economic sector according to the Politburo’s Resolution 08-NQ / TW dated January 16, 2017.

Despite the current situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam’s tourism has remained relatively resilient thanks to strong local demand and the Vietnam Government’s leadership and success in limiting the number of cases, contact tracing and social distancing. Once international travel resumes, Vietnam’s tourism growth will be furthered, creating significant economic opportunities for Southeast Asia travel destinations.

By 2030, tourism is set to become a key industry, making Vietnam one of the top 30 most-competitive tourism countries in the world with an average growth rate of 11-12%/year, contributing 15-17% to GDP.

Lodgis Hospitality – Vietnam’s leading fully-integrated hospitality investment platform with a proven track record

Realizing the enormous long-term potential of the tourism market in Vietnam, in 2016, Warburg Pincus, VinaCapital and its co-founder Don Lam established Lodgis Hospitality with the vision to aggregate a portfolio of high-quality hospitality assets and build an institutional grade, fully-integrated lodging investment platform.

With its operating headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City as well as with offices in Singapore and Bangkok, Lodgis has a team of highly experienced and dedicated industry professionals with disciplines in investment, asset management, development, project management, design and operations. Through its wholly-owned hotel management company – Fusion Hotels and Resorts – the company provides management and design consultancy services across a suite of brands including Fusion Resorts, Fusion Suites, Fusion Originals, Maia, Hiive, Glow, Glow the Premium Collection and Glow Inn.

Today, Lodgis has amassed a portfolio of best-in-class hospitality assets across Vietnam and Southeast Asia represented with more than 30 hotels, approximately 3,000 rooms under ownership and approximately 3,100 rooms managed. Leading luxury properties include one-of-a-kind hotels such as the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Raffles Le Royal Phnom Penh, and Raffles Siem Reap.

Lodgis owns and manages one of Vietnam’s leading, large-scale integrated resorts – Ho Tram Strip Complex – located outside of Ho Chi Minh City, which has the 5-star InterContinental Grand Ho Tram, Holiday Inn Resort, an international quality casino and Vietnam’s first-ranked golf course.

Fusion Hotels and Resorts has representation in all of the leading cities and resort destinations in Vietnam including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, Quy Nhon, Vung Tau with many more flags under discussion. Glow has properties in Thailand’s most popular markets including Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, and Krabi.

Ho Tram Strip Complex has the 5-star InterContinental Grand Ho Tram, Holiday Inn Resort, an international quality casino and Vietnam’s first-ranked golf course.

Among the most exciting projects at Lodgis is the planned launch and development of the Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion located at the Ho Tram Strip Complex, set along the beachfront. This exclusive beachfront development designed by leading international consultants will have 46 pool villas and 164 condotels. Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion will be part of the broader integrated Ho Tram Strip Complex, providing guests a number of restaurant and entertainment options, whilst having a strong sense of privacy. Ho Tram is conveniently located an approximately 2-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. This location will benefit from the existing and upcoming infrastructure such as Ho Chi Minh – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway, Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway, Bien Hoa – Vung Tau Expressway, Dau Giay – Phan Thiet Expressway, Long Thanh International Airport, Cai Mep Thi Vai Port. Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion is expected to offer appealing long-term investment potential.

In discussing our long-term Vietnam investment strategy, Mr. Peter T. Meyer, CEO of Lodgis Hospitality, shared: “Vietnam is a beautiful country, ranking among the most exciting travel markets. With its natural beauty, interesting history, unique culture, appealing cuisine, and strong hospitality, it is a very attractive international destination. Given its great prospects, Vietnam is central to our investment strategy. We hope to play our part in further developing Vietnam into a world-class tourism destination.”

World News in Brief: March 1

March 1, 2021 by en.nhandan.org.vn

* World Trade Organization members agreed on Monday to hold the next major ministerial meeting in Geneva, Switzerland in late 2021, delegates told Reuters. The biennial conference was originally set to be held in Kazakhstan last year but was delayed due to the pandemic.

* More COVID-19 cases and deaths were reported in Asia-Pacific on Monday, as India recorded 15,510 new infections, taking the total to 11,112,241. According to the official data, the death toll in India mounted to 157,157 with 106 more deaths.

* The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,037 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 578,381. The death toll climbed to 12,322 after four more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said.

* Bangladesh reported 585 new cases and eight more deaths, bringing the tally to 546,801 and the death toll to 8,416, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.

* Republic of Korea reported 355 more cases, raising the total number of infections to 90,029. Of the new cases, 92 were Seoul residents and 156 were people residing in Gyeonggi province. Seventeen cases were imported, lifting the combined figure to 7,063.

* The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 6,680 within one day to 1,341,314, with the death toll adding by 159 to 36,325, the Health Ministry said on Monday. According to the ministry, 9,212 more people were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 1,151,915.

* Americans should be able to receive Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine within the next 24 to 48 hours, its chief executive said on Monday after US regulators approved the vaccine, making it the country’s third available one for the novel coronavirus.

* Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he will discuss COVID-19 vaccines and immigration policy when he speaks with his US counterpart Joe Biden later on Monday.

* The European Commission will present a proposal in March on creating an EU-wide digital COVID-19 vaccination passport that may allow Europeans to travel more freely over the peak summer holiday period. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced the coming legislative proposal in a speech to German conservative lawmakers on Monday, providing a few more details in subsequent tweets.

* The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent reached 3,891,047 as of Sunday evening, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. According to the continental disease control and prevention agency’s COVID-19 dashboard, the death toll related to the pandemic stood at 103,519 so far. A total of 3,463,677 people infected with COVID-19 have recovered across the continent, it disclosed.

* Brazil reported 34,027 new COVID-19 cases and 721 related deaths on Sunday, taking the national tally of confirmed cases to 10,551,259, and death toll to 254,942, the Ministry of Health said.

* The Argentine government on Sunday ordered that the Social, Preventive and Mandatory Distancing measures, in place to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be extended until March 12.

* The Finnish government declared a state of emergency on Monday due to rising COVID-19 infections, a step that would allow the Nordic country to shutter restaurants and to impose other measures to blunt the pandemic.

*The Czech Republic tightened lockdown measures on Monday, beefing up police presence to restrict movement throughout the country as the government battles the world’s worst surge in COVID-19 infections.

* The first United Arab Emirates ambassador to Israel arrived there on Monday pledging to build up new bilateral relations and officials said he would scout for an embassy location in the Tel Aviv area.

* The White House said on Sunday it was disappointed that Tehran had rejected an offer to hold informal talks with European countries and the United States over the Iran nuclear issue.

* Turkey’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 1.8 percent in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the country’s statistical authority announced on Monday. The Turkish economy ended 2020 on a high note, growing by 5.9 percent in the last quarter and 1.8 percent in the year as a whole, the Turkish Statistical Institute said.

* Global tourism industry anticipates a dynamic comeback in the second half of this year with worldwide expanding vaccinations against COVID-19, according to attendees of a recent tourism fair in Turkey’s western province of Izmir.

* France registered 19,952 new coronavirus infection cases and 122 related deaths in the past 24 hours, according to figures released by the Public Health Agency on Sunday. The cumulative number of coronavirus cases in France now stands at 3,755,968, and the total number of fatalities at 86,454 since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country.

* Russia successfully launched its first “Arktika-M” satellite on Sunday to monitor the Arctic’s climate and environment, the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos said in a press release.

* Israel’s natural gas and oil revenues totaled ILS1.09 billion (about US$330 million) in 2020, according to an annual report issued on Monday by the country’s Ministry of Energy. This is a record high figure and an increase of 29.4 percent compared to oil and natural gas revenues of US$255 million in 2019.

* Iraqi oil exports rose to 2.96 million barrels per day (bpd) in February from 2.868 million bpd the previous month, the Oil Ministry said on Monday.

* Ivory Coast launched the world’s first COVID-19 inoculation drive on Monday with doses imported from the COVAX sharing facility, a milestone in the race to extend vaccine access to poorer countries.

* Nigeria launched on online registration portal for COVID-19 vaccinations, its primary healthcare agency said on Monday, the day before the first doses are expected to arrive for its 200 million people.

World leaders offer congratulations to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s re-election

February 27, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

Leaders of many countries have extended their congratulations to Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong over his re-election as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the 13th tenure.

World leaders offer congratulations to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's re-election

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong during the press conference held after the conclusion of the 13th National Party Congress in Hanoi on February 1, 2021

Leaders of many countries, including the US, Russia, France, South Korea, and ASEAN countries, have extended their congratulations to Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong over his re-election as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the 13th tenure.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s message says Russia values the personal contribution of the Vietnamese Party leader to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

It expresses his belief that with joint efforts, the two countries will continue to promote bilateral constructive dialogues and effective cooperation in all fields, which meets the interest of the people of both Russia and Vietnam and contributes to ensuring stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden appreciated the commitments made by General Secretary Trong to promoting the US-Vietnam partnership, and expressed his wish to further bolster the bilateral ties.

He also welcomed the Vietnamese Party leader’s efforts in fighting corruption and promoting good governance, and wished the Party General Secretary success in his position.

The US President stressed that cooperation among the US, Vietnam and the ASEAN community, was very important to promoting shared priorities in the context of grave challenges facing the international community.

The message from Indian President Ram Nath Kovind notes that under General Secretary Trong’s leadership, the special and time-tested relations between India and Vietnam have witnessed unprecedented development in the past decade with the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016.

The President wished to continue working with the Vietnamese leader to further promote the relationship between the two nations, saying that the close coordination and partnership between the two countries in the post-pandemic world will contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and the world.

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said he was honoured to meet and talk with General Secretary Trong during his visit to Vietnam, his first trip abroad after taking office. He expressed a hope that he and the Vietnamese Party leader would continue to coordinate in the future to further develop and deepen the extensive strategic partnership of the two countries across the fields from politics and security to economics and trade.

As the world is facing unprecedented threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan wishes to stand side by side with the international community, including Vietnam, to overcome difficulties and challenges, Suga’s message reads, noting his hope that the Japan-Vietnam cooperative relationship will continue to be strengthened even during the pandemic.

President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Moon Jae-in praised the efforts of the Vietnamese Party leader to develop the RoK-Vietnam ties. He hopes to continue working with General Secretary Trong for the development of the two countries’ strategic cooperative partnership in the time ahead.

In his message, French President Emmanuel Macron notes that the two countries have made joint efforts to enhance their friendship and cooperation for many years. It highlights the visit by General Secretary Trong to France in March 2018 as a strong boost to bilateral ties. France wants to work together with Vietnam to overcome great global challenges, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and preservation of biological diversity.

Macron hopes that the two sides will join hands to further deepen bilateral ties in economics, culture, health care and national defence. The message reiterates France’s strong commitment to ASEAN and close cooperation in multilateral institutions such as the UN Security Council on the basis of international law.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s message says that under the leadership of General Secretary Trong, Vietnam has made strong leaps in the past decade. The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam marked the start of a new key period in Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

Singapore and Vietnam are both traditional friends and strategic partners, and have always cooperated closely and effectively in both bilateral and ASEAN frameworks. The message affirms the Prime Minister’s belief that the close bilateral relations will continue to be promoted in the years to come.

Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha wrote that the outcomes of the Congress demonstrated the trust of the Vietnamese Party and people in Party General Secretary Trong.

“I believe that under your sound leadership, Vietnam will continue to develop more strongly,” he wrote, and re-affirmed Thailand’s firm commitment to further deepening the enhanced strategic partnership with Vietnam.

The Thai PM wishes that the two countries will cooperate more closely for the interest of their people and for peace and development in the region.

VNS