In the morning of Nov. 7, Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam held talks with Deputy PM Vu Khoan. He said he was delighted to visit Viet Nam and praised Viet Nam for the country's achievements in the renewal process. He affirmed the Thai Government's policy to attach importance to relations with neighbouring and regional countries, including Viet Nam. He said he hoped that Viet Nam and Thailand would further enhance their traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation.

Deputy PM Khoan spoke highly of the significance of his Thai counterpart's visit, saying that the visit was a follow-up to the activities to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Thailand since the first joint cabinet meeting of the two countries in February 2004. He also said he believed that the visit would contribute to consolidating and boosting Viet Nam-Thailand ties, for the interest of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and in the world.

The two deputy PMs expressed their pleasure at the rapid progress of Viet Nam-Thailand friendship and comprehensive cooperation over the past years. They highly appreciated the results of the joint cabinet meeting last year and affirmed their determination to implement the joint statement on bilateral cooperation in the first decade of the 21st century, with focus on political-security, economic and cultural-social cooperation. They discussed specific preparations for the second joint cabinet meeting slated for February 2006 in Thailand.

They spoke highly of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam-Thailand diplomatic ties (August 6, 1976-2006), saying that this would be an important event in bilateral relations.

The two deputy PMs said they were pleased with the continuous development in economic cooperation between the two sides over recent years, particularly in the areas of trade and investment. They agreed to further boost cooperation in trade, investment, aquatic product and farm produce processing, transport and communications and tourism.

Deputy PM Khoan and his guest also expressed their pleasure at the effective cooperation between the two countries in combating bird flu and preventing natural calamities, and pledged to continue assisting each other in the future.

Khoan thanked the Thai Government for its emergency aid of 100,000 USD to help Viet Nam overcome the aftermaths of the recent floods and for the experiences Thailand had shared with Viet Nam in the fight against avian influenza, as well as for the vaccines against cattle diseases.

The two sides agreed to further enhance coordination and cooperation in the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and at regional forums, such as the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), and the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

In particular, Thailand highly appreciated Viet Nam's participation in the ACMECS and its role in the grouping./.