Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit toThailand was fruitful, with the two PMs discussing frankly cooperation in bothbilateral and multilateral frameworks, stated Deputy Foreign Minister Dang DinhQuy.

During the visit from August 17-19, PM Phuc and his Thai counterpartPrayuth Chan-o-cha sought collaboration measures to build the ASEAN Communityand maintain the association’s central role on the occasion of ASEAN’s 50th founding anniversary, as well as ways to strengthen bilateral cooperationwithin sub-regional programmes and projects.

The two sides discussed long-lasting issues such as how to minimiseconflicts at sea, illegal fishing and smuggling on each other’s waters, and illegalVietnamese workers in Thailand.

They agreed to accelerate negotiations on an agreement on criminalextradition and a treaty on mutual legal assistance, as well as the expansionof the treaty on labour as Thailand has high demand for labourers while Vietnamhas a large supply.

At the same time, the two PMs decided to set up mechanisms to settleexisting problems with these incomplete agreements, thus avoiding furtherissues, said Deputy FM Quy.

PM Phuc was also keen to boost economic partnerships with Thailand tobalance trade and increase investment, especially in tourism, as the number ofThai tourists to Vietnam is one fourth of Vietnamese visitors to Thailand.

The Government leader also met with businesses of both countries. Duringthe visit, he attended the signing of dozens of agreements and memoranda ofunderstanding between ministries, sectors, localities and businesses of bothsides, noted Quy.

The Deputy FM stressed that a highlight of the PM’s visit was hismeetings with the Vietnamese community in Thailand.

The PM pledged to create favourable conditions for them to contribute tothe homeland by promoting economic connectivity between Thailand’s northeasternregion with central regions of Laos and Vietnam.

Quy said that in all of his meetings with Thai officials and localcommunity, PM Phuc thanked the King, Government and people of Thailand forsupporting the Vietnamese community, while expressing hope that the Thai sidecontinue creating favourable conditions for the community.

Notably, in a retreat meeting with the Thai PM, PM Phuc proposed issuinglegal documents to old Vietnamese people in Thailand, enabling them to travelto their homeland. He also gave a list of 59 old people in need of thedocuments. The Thai PM assigned the Minister of Foreign Affairs to tackle theissue.

“Vietnam and Thailand compete in football, but should cooperate in all otherfields,” stated PM Phuc, a statement his Thai counterpart agreed with.

Deputy FM Quy expressed belief that the visit will result in newdevelopment in bilateral ties, as it helped foster mutual political trust anddetermination to create favourable legal conditions for existing problems,while changing mindsets from competition to cooperation.

Quy also emphasised the need for ministries, sectors, businesses and peopleof both countries to engage in boosting the traditional friendship between thetwo countries to make full use of bilateral cooperation.-VNA