MLC Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Vietnam's FM Meets Foreign Officials

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son of Vietnam and Deputy Prime Minister and his counterparts of Cambodia, Thailand and Laos exchanged views of measures to strengthen cooperation on the sidelines of the seventh Mekong - Lancang Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bagan, Myanmar, on July 3, VOV reported.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son of Vietnam and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn of Cambodia. Photo: baoquocte.vn

Vietnam and Cambodia will continue to maintain effective cooperation in various fields of politics, security and defense, economy, trade investment, and education training, heard the meeting FM Son and Deputy Prime Minister and FM Prak Sokhonn of Cambodia.

The two FMs expressed their elation at the positive development of bilateral relations in recent times through high-level visit exchanges and contact, helping to increase economic and trade cooperation. Two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Cambodia rose 19% in the first five months of this year compared to the corresponding period last year, hitting US$5.44 billion.

They said the two sides had jointly organized a ceremony marking 45 years of Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen’s search for national salvation to overthrow the genocidal Pol Pot regime, and another ceremony celebrating 55 years of the Vietnam – Cambodia diplomacy.

The two diplomats agreed that both sides will coordinate well in preparing for coming high-level visits, and in organizing other activities within the framework of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Year 2022.

They also discussed both sides’ coordination in ASEAN and a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son of Vietnam (R) and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai of Thailand meet on the sidelines of the seventh Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bagan, Myanmar, on July 3. Photo: baoquocte.vn

Meanwhile, FM Son and Deputy Prime Minister and FM Don Pramudwinai of Thailand argeed that the two countries should soon restore commercial flights and open new routes to facilitate tourism and trade cooperation.

At the meeting, Son requested that the two sides promote trade growth in a more balanced way to soon achieve the bilateral trade target of US$25 billion by 2025. They will jointly organize activities to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam – Thailand strategic partnership in 2023.

Minister Son also suggested that the Thai side create favorable conditions for the export of food, milk, and dairy products from Vietnam to Thailand, as well as soon signing a labor recruitment agreement to replace the 2015 agreement between the two countries.

The two FMs agreed to increase exchanges of high-level visits and implement cooperation mechanisms in the coming time, including organizing the ninth Vietnam-Thailand political consultation.

The two diplomats also discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Minister Bui Thanh Son invited Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son of Vietnam (L) and Lao Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. Photo: baoquocte.vn

During the meeting with Lao Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, the two FMs affirmed their continued coordination in the effective implementation of the cooperation agreement between the two sides for the period 2021-2025, including the coordination in the effective implementation of the Action Program on economic diplomatic cooperation for the period 2020--2025, promote exchanges, strategic studies and regular exchanges between key units of the two ministries.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen coordination and mutual support at international, regional, and sub-regional forums, together with other member states to maintain solidarity and strengthen ASEAN's central role.

Under the theme "Solidarity for Peace and Prosperity", the seventh Mekong - Lancang Foreign Ministers’ Meeting evaluates the progress made in the implementation of the Five-Year Plan of Action on Mekong-Lancan Cooperation (2018-2022) and exchanges views on the new draft Five-Year Plan of Action for 2023-2027.

Last June, the 6th MLC Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Founded in 2016, the MCL consists of six member countries, namely Thailand, China, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

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