The Thai Ambassador to Vietnam, Pisanu Chavitan, stated this at a seminar entitled “Increasing the opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand ” which was held in Hanoi on August 25.

Mr Chavitan said the seminar is part of the Thai government’s strategy to turn Thailand into an ideal venue for international trade exhibitions and fairs and to promote bilateral trade with Vietnam.

The diplomat underlined that Thailand and Vietnam set up commercial and cultural relations more than 30 years ago. In 2007, Thailand ranked ninth in the world and third amongst ASEAN member countries in terms of investment and trade value with Vietnam, he added.

Pham Thi Hong Thanh, Vice Director of the Asia-Pacific Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, told the participants that the value of Vietnamese-Thai trade has seen an average annual growth rate of 25-30 percent in recent years.
Last year, Vietnam exported US$1.3 billion worth of goods to Thailand and imported products worth US$4.9 billion from Thailand , said Ms Thanh.

Despite a drop in bilateral trade value in the first few months of 2009 due to the adverse impact of the global economic crisis, Vietnam and Thailand have remained optimistic about the level of their two-way trade.

Vietnam and Thailand have already signed close to 30 cooperation agreements and deals covering a wide range of areas, including trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, fishery, animal quarantine, food hygiene, security and environmental protection.