Inside ASEAN Column

Column: Inside ASEAN

Written By: Bilateral Parliamentary Relations Division

Bureau of International Relations, The Secretariat of the House of Representatives

Translated by: Bureau of Foreign Languages, the Secretariat of the Senate

Bilateral Meeting in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

The delegation of Thailand-Vietnam Parliamentarians Friendship Group led by Mr. Surachai Liengboonlertchai, First-Vice President of the National Legislative Assembly, and members of the National Legislative Assembly as representatives of Thailand-Vietnam Parliamentarians Friendship Group consisting of Mr. Sakchai Tanaboonchai, Members of the National Legislative Assembly as Chairperson of Thailand-Vietnam Parliamentarians Friendship Group, ACM Chana U-sathaporn, Mr. Witawad Boonyasatid, Lt.Gen. Pissanu Puttawong, Mr. Poj Aramwattananont and Mr. Chatchai Piyasombatkul, Members of the National Legislative Assembly, attended bilateral meetings in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam during 13-17 January 2019 as invited by Mr. Pham Dinh Toan, Member of the House of Nationalities and Chairperson of Vietnam-Thailand Parliamentarians Friendship Group. The objectives of the bilateral meeting were to discuss guidelines to strengthen the relationship between the parliaments of the two countries and to inform about situations and progress in transforming countries in different aspects especially, on legislation. Moreover, it also aimed to promote the relationship between Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on various matters namely, economy, culture and labour. The bilateral meetings are summarized as follows;

• Monday 14 January 2019 at 10.00 hrs., at the House of Nationalities, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Mr. Surachai Liengboonlertchai and the delegates attended a bilateral meeting with Mr. Pham Dinh Toan, Chairperson of Vietnam-Thailand Parliamentarians Friendship Group and the delegates. The Chairperson of the Vietnam-Thailand Parliamentarians Friendship Group welcomed the Thai delegation and introduced the Vietnamese delegates.

After that, the First-Vice President of the National Legislative Assembly expressed his appreciation to the House of Nationalities of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for inviting the Thai delegation to attend the bilateral meeting in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

On this occasion, he also expressed his sympathy to Vietnamese people for the loss of the three Vietnamese significant persons namely, Mr. Tran Dai Quang, President, Mr. Do Moui, former Prime Minister, and Mr. Phan Van Khai, former Prime Minister, who devoted themselves to strengthen stability and prosperity to the country and the Vietnamese people.

Moreover, the two sides had a bilateral meeting and exchanged views on diplomatic relations of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam that has been established in 1976 where both countries have exchanged support in all platforms. An important mechanism promoting the relationship between the two countries is the signing of Thailand-Vietnam Strategic Partnership and Action Plan for Thailand-Vietnam Strategic Partnership. Both sides ensure cooperation to develop the relationship between the two countries in all dimensions according to Thailand-Vietnam Strategic Partnership. Moreover, the delegations of Thailand and Vietnam also discussed about economy, trade, relationship, tourism and people-people contact as well as establishment of Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association and Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association. In 2019, the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand holding Chairmanship of AIPA will host AIPA General Assembly in August 2019 in Bangkok and two other meetings namely AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD) Meeting and AIPA-ASEAN Interface Meeting during the 34^th ASEAN Summit.

On this occasion, the First-Vice President of the National Legislative Assembly invited the Chairperson of the Vietnam-Thailand Parliamentarians Friendship Group and the President of the House of Nationalities, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the aforesaid meetings.

• Tuesday 15 January 2019 at 10.00 hrs., at the House of Nationalities

Mr. Surachai Liengboonlertchai had a bilateral meeting with General Do Ba Ty, Vice President of the House of Nationalities of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the party on the cooperation between Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in promoting the strategic partnership especially on economy and trade which have been rapidly growing. In 2018, trade volume was 17,000 US dollars which was 14 percent higher than 2017. In 2019, the Government of Thailand and Vietnam will hold significant meetings namely, the 3^rd Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) between Thailand and Vietnam in Bangkok and the 3^rd Foreign Ministers’ Retreat. The two meetings will act as important mechanisms in promoting better cooperation. In parliamentary relations, the Parliamentarians Friendship Groups of the two countries function as the main mechanism in enhancing parliamentary relations, supporting each other in international parliamentary meetings and promoting exchange of visits between parliamentarians of both countries at all levels. The House of Nationalities is ready to support the National Legislative Assembly of the Kingdom of Thailand for holding chairmanship of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in 2019. In addition, Vietnam raised the issue of Vietnamese fishing boats intruding Thai territorial waters and asking Thailand for treatment of the boat crews based on human rights. The First-Vice President of the National Legislative Assembly expressed his understanding on this matter and would propose the request from the Vietnamese delegation to related organizations in order to cooperate on fair treatment for the Vietnamese crews.

Later, the First-Vice President of the National Legislative Assembly and the delegation proceeded to Residence of the Thai Ambassador in Hanoi to receive a briefing on politics, government and economy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, economic relations between Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vietnamese fishing and labour issues.

• Wednesday 16 January 2019 at Reception Room, Na Lod Hotel, Da Nang

Mr. Surachai Liengboonlertchai, First-Vice President of the National Legislative Assembly, and the delegates had a meeting with Mr. Truong Quang Nghia, Secretary of the Da Nang Municipal Party Committee. The two delegations discussed how to develop the relations between Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam especially on the relations with Da Nang where many of Thai people peacefully live and make a living without problems. Moreover, Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association was established in Da Nang in order to organize activities to strengthen the relations between the two countries. The Thai government has sent volunteers from Thai Friends Foundation to teach Thai to Vietnamese students who take Thai courses in Da Nang University. This is considered another channel to promote stronger ties between Thailand and Vietnam. The Thai Parliament may, in the future, offer Vietnamese courses to the officials and request the Vietnamese delegates to send a Vietnamese teacher to the Thai Parliament. Moreover, Da Nang expressed the interest to enhance cooperation in becoming a friendship city with Khon Kean and Phuket Province in order to study and exchange the development of economy and tourism. The two provinces are potential and pilot provinces in Smart Cities especially in developing new technology and modern public utility and infrastructure. It is considered beneficial for both parties if Da Nang can successfully become a friendship city with Khon Kean and Phuket Provinces. On this occasion, the Secretary of the Da Nang Municipal Party Committee, requested Thailand’s cooperation to promote East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) in order to enhance regional economy and Da Nang is ready to discuss with the Thai government to strengthen cooperation in such matter.

The bilateral meeting reflects close relationship between the two countries in all levels in particular, public sectors, private sectors and people sectors. It also promotes stronger ties between parliamentarians of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam considered as a significant factor to support sustainable relationship of the two countries. On this occasion, the Thai delegates informed and invited the Vietnamese delegation to the 3 up-coming meetings chaired by Thailand namely 1) Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) held during 12-15 February 2019 at Amari Watergate, 2) the 2^nd AIPA Advisory Council on Dangerous Drugs (AIPACODD) Meeting held during 12-15 March 2019 in Chiang Mai and 3) the 40^th General Assembly of AIPA to be held during 25-31 August 2019 in Bangkok.

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