Arriving in Ha Noi, Party chief Trong sent a message to the Thai Prime Minister, saying he was pleased with the good outcomes of his visit.

He said that the outcomes of the visit, especially the agreement to establish the Thailand-Viet Nam strategic partnership, the first of its kind between the two ASEAN states, will serve as solid ground to further foster their bilateral ties in a more effective and comprehensive manner for the benefit of both nations, peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

He expressed his wishes that under the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the dear sighted leadership of the Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra–led Royal Government, Thailand continues growing in a stronger and more comprehensive manner, and promoting its increasingly important role in the region and the world.

As part of his visit to Thailand, the General Secretary visited Nakhon Phanom, a northeastern province of Thailand, where he was led to the Thailand-Vietnam friendship village, a memorial area where late President Ho Chi Minh stayed in July 1928 and where a Vietnamese community lives in the host locality.

At a gathering with a host of Vietnamese expatriates, Trong reaffirmed that the Party and State’s policies pay great attention to overseas Vietnamese, considering them as an integral part of the Vietnamese nation.

He said he hopes the overseas Vietnamese in Thailand will unceasingly promote patriotic tradition and national pride, play active roles in the host localities’ socio-economic development and serve as a bridge to further elevate the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The Party chief presented a 30 billion VND fund to provincial authorities to construct a memorial dedicated to late President Ho Chi Minh in the locality.

Later, Trong met with the provincial governor Anukun Angkankulchai. Both sides expressed hope that the cooperative links between Nakhon Phanom province and other localities of Viet Nam will be broadened in the time to come, making practical contributions to facilitating the new strategic partnership agreement.

The guest thanked the host for creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese people living and working there.

Since diplomatic ties were established in August 1976, economic and trade ties between Viet Nam and Thailand have grown, particularly in rice production and exports, finance, transport and oil and gas.

In 2012, two-way trade hit 8.62 billion USD. Thailand now ranks tenth out of Viet Nam’s 96 investors with 300 projects worth a total of 6.11 billion USD. Viet Nam has invested in seven projects in Thailand with a total capital of 11.35 million USD.