Vietnam PM hosts welcome ceremony for Thai counterpart

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra review the guard of honour in Hanoi on May 16, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

PM Paetongtarn is paying an official visit to Vietnam, where she will also co-chair the 4th Vietnam-Thailand joint cabinet meeting.

PM Chinh and his Thai counterpart visited an exhibition featuring the land and people of the two countries and their relations before holding talks.

This is the first visit to Vietnam by PM Paetongtarn since she took office, and also the first by a Thai Government leader in 11 years. Additionally, it marks the first joint cabinet meeting between the two countries' prime ministers in 10 years.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra shake hands before holding talks in Hanoi, May 16, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Vietnam and Thailand established diplomatic relations on Aug. 6, 1976, and elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership in June 2013, becoming the first pair of ASEAN member states to establish such a partnership.

In 2015, the relationship was further upgraded to an "Enhanced Strategic Partnership" to promote stronger and more comprehensive cooperation.

One of the most outstanding pillars of bilateral cooperation in recent years has been economic, trade, and investment collaboration.

Thailand is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in ASEAN and ranks 9th in the world. Bilateral trade reached US$20.2 billion last year, and $3.1 billion in the first two months of 2025, marking a 6.2% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Both sides aim to raise their two-way trade turnover to $25 billion in the coming time, in a balanced and sustainable manner.