​From September 12 to September 14, 2024, in Chonburi province, Thailand, the 13th Joint Meeting between the Executive Committee of the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association and the Thailand - Vietnam Friendship Association took place. This is an annual meeting on a rotating basis to evaluate the results of cooperation proposed in the previous year's meeting, and at the same time discuss and agree on long - term cooperation orientation and specific cooperation activities in the coming time between the two friendship associations.

Delegates posing for a group photo at the 13th Joint Meeting

Attending the Meeting, on the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association side, there were 20 delegates led by Lieutenant General, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Former Member of the Central Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Chairman of the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association. Also participating in the delegation was Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc Ha, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association of Dong Nai province. On the side of the Thailand - Vietnam Friendship Association, the delegation was headed by Mr. Sanan Angubolkul, Chairman. In addition, the leaders of the two sides also include Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Thailand Pham Viet Hung; Mr. Ta Quang Ngoc, Former Minister of Fisheries of Vietnam, Former Chairman of the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association, Minister-Second Person Thai Embassy in Vietnam Saranya Paleewongse; Representatives of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a number of Vietnamese and Thai enterprises.

Speaking at the opening of the Meeting, Chairman of the Thailand - Vietnam Friendship Association Sanan Angubolkul shared the great losses and difficulties that storm No. 3 (Yagi Typhoon) caused to many localities in Vietnam, and at the same time through people - to - people diplomacy activities, Mr. Sanan Angubolkul affirmed that he will make efforts, contribute and soon raise the level of bilateral relations between Vietnam and Thailand, building relations and cooperation between the two Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Associations. and Thailand - Vietnam to become typical models of people - to - people diplomacy.

Senior Lieutenant General, Associate Professor. Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh expressed his joy at the fruitful developments of relations between the two countries in many fields of trade, tourism, culture..., especially the inauguration of the first Vietnam Street in Thailand and the establishment of two Centers for Vietnamese Studies at Udon Thani Royal University, Udon Thani Province and the College of Asian Scholars in Khon Kaen Province. The Chairman of the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association thanked the leaders and people of Thailand for sharing the great loss of the General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s passing and their sympathy towards the difficulties Việt Nam faced due to Yagi Typhoon. Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh also extended his condolences to Thailand and its people for the damage caused by severe floods currently affecting several north and northeast provinces.

Senior Lieutenant General, Associate Professor. Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Chairman of the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association speaking at the meeting. Photo: VNA

Also at the Meeting, Ambassador Pham Viet Hung thanked the Chairman of the Thailand - Vietnam Friendship Association and the Chairman of the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association and the leadership for their vision, enthusiasm, and profound social influence; leading the two associations to implement many practical and effective people - to - people diplomacy activities for the prosperous development of the two countries. Ambassador Pham Viet Hung affirmed that the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand will always accompany the activities of the two associations in the coming time, especially towards the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Thailand.

According to reports at the Meeting, in recent times, the two associations have closely coordinated to organize many activities that have made an important contribution to strengthening the close, friendly, cooperative relationship and solidarity between the two countries such as: exchanging delegations (attending the Vietnam - Thailand Business Forum in Bangkok, the 12th Joint Meeting between the two associations in Da Nang city...), coordinating in human resource training, promoting cooperation in the field of economy, culture, sports, community health, locality twinning... At the Meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen a number of cooperative activities in the coming time such as: donating to Nam Dan District Medical Center (Nghe An) ultrasound machines; cooperating in human resource training (implementing the projects on English training exchange, promoting the operational efficiency of Vietnamese studies centers, the Thailand - Vietnam Friendship Association will coordinate and support students Vietnam to study and intern at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce...); celebrating the 135th Birth Anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh organized by the Thai-Vietnamese Association of Nakhon Phanom province; introducing OCOP and OTOP products in Udon Thani province; setting up twin relationship between the two nations' localities; The 14th meeting of the two associations in Vietnam in 2025...

As part of their working trip, the VTFA delegation attended a seminar on "Three connectivities" strategy between Việt Nam and Thailand. Highlighting the importance of implementing this strategy, the Thai side affirmed that it will prioritise resources and leverage existing advantages between the two countries, particularly the special peope-to-people bond, to connect the Việt Nam-Thailand sustainable development strategy for prosperous development of the two nations and the region.