Q: The 14th National Party Congress has set out new directions for Viet Nam's foreign affairs in the country's new stage of development. Could you share the key priorities and tasks that the Embassy of Viet Nam in Thailand will focus on to implement the Party's foreign policy in Thailand and contribute to advancing the Viet Nam–Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?
A: Guided by the foreign policy orientations of the 14th National Party Congress, the Embassy of Viet Nam in Thailand has identified its foremost priority as the effective implementation of the Viet Nam–Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, translating into concrete action the common understandings reached by the senior leaders of both countries and the action programme for the 2026–2031 period.
Our overarching objective is to ensure that bilateral relations become increasingly substantive and effective, contributing to the maintenance of peace and stability while mobilising external resources to support Viet Nam's national development.
In the period ahead, the embassy will focus on three major priorities.
First, we will continue to strengthen political trust and deepen cooperation across all channels, including party-to-party, state-to-state, parliamentary, local-level, and people-to-people exchanges, thereby supporting the effective implementation of the three pillars of the comprehensive strategic partnership: Partnership for Sustainable Peace, Partnership for Sustainable Development, and Partnership for a Sustainable Future.
Second, we will place economic diplomacy at the centre of our work, serving the interests of the people, localities, and businesses. The embassy will continue to promote the effective implementation of the ‘Three Connects’ strategy, creating fresh momentum for bilateral economic cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, logistics, digital transformation, green transition, the digital economy, high-tech agriculture, and emerging technology sectors.
Third, we will leverage the strengths of cultural diplomacy, external communications and work relating to overseas Vietnamese to reinforce the social foundations of bilateral relations.
Our overarching objective is to ensure that bilateral relations become increasingly substantive and effective, contributing to the maintenance of peace and stability while mobilising external resources to support Viet Nam's national development.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung
The year 2026 holds particular significance as the two countries commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. It provides an opportunity to further promote the image of a peaceful, dynamic, culturally rich, and internationally integrated Viet Nam through cultural, educational, tourism, and people-to-people exchange activities. The embassy will continue supporting the Vietnamese community in Thailand, enabling it to play its role as an important bridge for strengthening friendship and ties between the peoples of the two countries.
Q: As the foreign policy directions of the 14th National Party Congress are being implemented, what notable achievements has the Embassy of Viet Nam in Thailand made in promoting and deepening the Viet Nam–Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?
A: Built upon increasingly strong political trust and shared strategic interests, bilateral relations continue to develop robustly, comprehensively, and substantively across all areas.
The embassy has actively advised and worked closely with relevant agencies in both countries to prepare and successfully organise high-level exchanges, helping to sustain the positive momentum of bilateral relations.
In particular, the official visit to Thailand by General Secretary and State President To Lam in May 2026, the official visit to Viet Nam by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in June 2026, and the official visit by President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand Sophon Zaram in early August 2026 have provided important momentum for effectively implementing the comprehensive strategic partnership framework.
Building on the common understandings and agreements reached by the senior leaders of both countries, the embassy has worked closely with relevant authorities in Viet Nam and Thailand to translate these outcomes into practical cooperation.
In the economic sphere, the embassy has proactively advised on and promoted economic cooperation in line with the directions set by the two countries' senior leaders. It has strengthened connections among ministries, sectors, localities, and business communities while assisting enterprises in overcoming difficulties, identifying new opportunities, and expanding investment and business activities.
Recently, the embassy successfully arranged working programmes for delegations from Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh Hoa, and Dong Thap in Thailand. It also contributed to the successful participation of a large Vietnamese tourism and hospitality business delegation of more than 60 members in business networking activities in Bangkok, and organised the Viet Nam Connect Forum 2026, the first Viet Nam–Thailand business networking event held in Phuket. These initiatives have expanded bilateral cooperation beyond traditional centres such as Bangkok and Thailand's North-East to the country's southern region, where there is considerable potential for expanding cooperation in trade, investment, and tourism.
The achievements made in recent years are vivid evidence of the increasingly substantive and effective development of the Viet Nam–Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung
During this milestone year marking half a century of diplomatic relations, the embassy has worked closely with Thai partners to organise a wide range of meaningful activities in culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges, including photo exhibitions, art exchanges, culinary workshops, academic exchange programmes, and the transfer of six red-crowned cranes from Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo (Korat Zoo) to Tram Chim National Park in Dong Thap Province.
Overall, these achievements clearly demonstrate the increasingly substantive and effective development of the Viet Nam–Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also provide an important foundation for the two countries to further expand cooperation across a wide range of fields for the benefit of their peoples and for peace, stability, and development in the region.
Q: Viet Nam and Thailand have many opportunities to further deepen and strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership. In your view, which areas offer the greatest untapped potential, and what priorities will the embassy focus on in the coming period?
A: I believe Viet Nam and Thailand are presented with an excellent opportunity to elevate bilateral relations to an even higher level under the comprehensive strategic partnership framework. Considerable potential remains in emerging areas such as the digital economy, green transition, artificial intelligence, the semiconductor industry, logistics, renewable energy, and innovation.
Alongside economic cooperation, I hope that collaboration between local authorities, universities, research institutes, and youth exchanges will become new drivers of growth, laying a solid foundation for long-term bilateral relations.
Going forward, the Embassy of Viet Nam in Thailand will continue to serve as a bridge by promoting the effective implementation of agreements reached by the two countries' senior leaders; facilitating cooperation among ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses; and further expanding people-to-people exchanges. These efforts will help ensure that bilateral relations continue to grow in depth, substance, and effectiveness.
Thank you very much!
