National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn meets with Sophon Zaram, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand, who is paying an official visit to Việt Nam, in Hà Nội on Wednesday afternoon. — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam and Thailand agreed to strengthen the role of their legislatures to improve the legal framework and oversee implementation of high-level agreements as well as ensuring completion of the 2026-31 Action Programme for the Việt Nam-Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two countries also pledged to effectively implement the 'three connects' strategy to enhance connectivity between supply chains, businesses and localities.

The agreement was reached during talks held on Wednesday, as National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn met with President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand Sophon Zaram, who is leading a high-level Thai parliamentary delegation on an official visit to Việt Nam.

Chairman Mẫn welcomed his counterpart and expressed confidence that the trip would inject fresh momentum into cooperation between the two legislatures and further deepen parliamentary ties.

He said that the visit was particularly significant as it coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and Thailand (August 6, 1976–2026), at a time when bilateral ties have been flourishing since the two countries elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in May 2025.

Chairman Mẫn congratulated Thailand on the successful conduct of its general election in February 2026 and on Sophon Zaram's election as President of the National Assembly.

He expressed confidence that, under Speaker Zaram's leadership, the Thai Parliament would continue working closely with the Government to promote socio-economic development, improve people's livelihoods and further enhance Thailand's standing on the international stage.

Speaker Zaram said he was delighted to be making his first official visit to Việt Nam and expressed his appreciation for the warm and gracious hospitality extended by the Vietnamese National Assembly and people.

He stressed that the visit vividly reflected the friendship, closeness and mutual trust underpinning bilateral relations.

He described Việt Nam and Thailand relations as a model of friendly cooperation, contributing to regional stability and shared prosperity.

The two parliamentary leaders briefed each other on the socio-economic development of their countries and held in-depth discussions on measures to further strengthen cooperation between the two nations and their legislatures.

Chairman Mẫn praised Thailand's impressive achievements in restoring economic growth, advancing social development and maintaining its position as one of Southeast Asia's leading economies and a major regional tourism hub.

He also commended the country's efforts to promote science and technology, digital transformation and innovation, expressing confidence that Thailand would successfully implement its 20-Year National Strategy and further strengthen its regional and global role.

He also shared Việt Nam's development achievements after four decades of Đổi mới (Renewal), reaffirming the country's consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, as well as the diversification and multilateralisation of external relations.

He stressed that Việt Nam attaches great importance and gives high priority to its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Thailand, describing the country as an important partner and close companion within ASEAN and the Mekong sub-region.

The two sides welcomed the positive progress in bilateral relations across all fields since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

They agreed to continue closely coordinating the effective implementation of high-level agreements, maintain exchanges of delegations at all levels and existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and deepen cooperation in defence and security, as well as in trade, investment and economic ties in a balanced and sustainable manner.

They also pledged to work towards raising two-way trade to US$25 billion at an early date; strengthen connectivity in infrastructure and logistics, and links between businesses and localities; expand cooperation in tourism, education and training, science and technology, innovation and people-to-people exchanges; and continue preserving and promoting cultural values associated with the Việt Nam–Thailand friendship.

The two leaders also agreed to make greater use of the Vietnamese community in Thailand as a bridge between the two countries and to strengthen coordination in addressing issues of mutual concern.

On regional and international issues, the two parliamentary leaders agreed to continue close coordination within ASEAN, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union and other multilateral parliamentary forums, while upholding ASEAN centrality and promoting cooperation through Mekong sub-regional mechanisms.

Commending the growing cooperation between the two legislatures, the two leaders agreed to increase high-level and other parliamentary exchanges, effectively implement the cooperation agreement between the two NAs and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of the National Assembly of Việt Nam and the Secretariat of the Thai House of Representatives.

They also agreed to broaden cooperation and share experience among specialised committees, friendship parliamentary groups, young parliamentarians, women parliamentarians and supporting agencies of the two legislatures in areas including law-making, supreme oversight, digital transformation, green growth and climate change response. — VNS