Vietnam-Thailand Summit: King's First Visit in 50 Years Marks New Era of Relations

Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President To Lam held talks with Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana on September 15. This state visit by the Thai King, the first in 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1976, marks a historic milestone for bilateral ties. Both leaders agreed to further promote people-to-people exchanges, education, culture, and tourism cooperation, especially following the upgrade of Vietnam-Thailand relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025. General Secretary and President Lam emphasized the visit's historical significance. King Vajiralongkorn highly appreciated Vietnam's progress in national development and improving citizens' quality of life, affirming the visit as an opportunity to strengthen relations and foster joint development. He also acknowledged the Thai Royal Family's support for educational and community development projects in Vietnam, with Vietnam pledging continued cooperation and facilitation. Discussions also focused on enhancing economic, trade, and investment cooperation, as well as strengthening transport connectivity and local-level exchanges. General Secretary and President Lam expressed gratitude for the Thai King and Royal Family's goodwill towards Vietnam, particularly their attention to the Vietnamese community in Thailand and the preservation of Ho Chi Minh sites. Both sides commended their coordination in multilateral forums and regional cooperation mechanisms, agreeing to contribute to ASEAN's solidarity and centrality. On the same day, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung met with the Thai King and Queen, proposing to boost trade, investment, and inter-sectoral and local cooperation to deepen economic linkages. The King expressed interest in enhanced cooperation in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, noting the complementary strengths of both economies. National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man also met with the King and Queen, expressing hope for continued support in legislative cooperation, including experience sharing in law-making, oversight, policy formulation, and parliamentary forum coordination. The King recognized the role of parliaments in creating a favorable legal framework and facilitating cooperation, suggesting that increased interactions among legislative bodies, localities, and social organizations would foster a better understanding of public and business needs, thereby promoting practical cooperation. Vietnam and Thailand elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on May 16, 2025. Thailand is Vietnam's largest trading partner within ASEAN. Bilateral trade reached $22.1 billion in 2025, a 9% increase year-on-year. Trade exceeded $15.03 billion in the first seven months of 2026. There are over 100,000 Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand, with 2,000-3,000 Vietnamese students studying there. Thai universities support Thai language teaching in Vietnam and offer scholarships. Source: VnExpress