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Trade
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2006-10-26 01:20:29-04
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Thai and Vietnamese leaders meet to raise the volume of bilateral trade
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Bangkok, Oct 26: The Thai Prime Minister, General Surayud Chulanont, stated that strengthening bilateral cooperation and relationships with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam would be the first priority for improving both parties' long-lasting relations. Speaking in a meeting with General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh , Surayud had friendly conversations with him and expressed gratitude for his warm receptions. The premier echoed his intention that during a short period of one-year administration he would emphasize on fostering relations with Vietnam and other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The prime minister and his Vietnamese counter part will also discuss the ways in which the two countries can raise the amount of bilateral trade to five billion US dollars a year. General Surayud left for Vietnam this morning for a one-day official visit which is the sixth in a series of his visits to member countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since the assumption of his post, reports Thaisnews.com. Information Department Director-General Kitti Vasinond said the Thai and Vietnamese leaders are determined to jointly push the annual bilateral trade volume to five billion US dollars. General Surayud will also ask Vietnam to help facilitate Thai investment in that country before Vietnam becomes member of the World Trade Organization. The two leaders are also expected to discuss cooperation in the fields of public health including bird flu prevention, security matters as well as the promotion of people-to-people cooperation in celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Thai-Vietnamese diplomatic relations. Besides, Thailand will reaffirm commitments with Vietnam under multi-lateral framework, particularly its efforts to push for concrete cooperation under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy or ACMECS. Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has already visited Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines respectively before his visit to Vietnam. The Information Department Director-General said leaders of Brunei Darussalam and Singapore have already confirmed their meetings with General Surayud on the sidelines of their participation in the ASEAN-China summit in Nanning, the People's Republic of China at the end of this month.
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