Thailand, Vietnam elevate relations to ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - Thailand and Vietnam elevated their relations to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” according to a joint statement issued by both sides on Friday.

With this partnership "the two countries commit to consolidating and further strengthening all aspects of their relationship while respecting international law and each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, mutual interest and respective political systems," the statement said.

The agreement was reached during Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's two-day visit to Vietnam.

Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation between their defense ministries and militaries, including through activities such as joint patrols, training, intelligence information sharing.

They also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation, such as defense industry, military medicine, and further reaffirmed to not allow others to use their territories against each other.

Hanoi and Bangkok agreed to work jointly with other countries inside and outside of the region to "promote peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above all maritime sphere of Southeast Asia, particularly the South China Sea," the statement said, adding that they reiterated "ASEAN's consistent position on the South China Sea."

Both sides agreed on promoting cooperation in science, technology, people-to-people relations, connection of supply chains between two countries, regional and international cooperation such as ASEAN, and overall economic cooperation.