 | | Party General Secretary Nông Đức Mạnh receives PM Abhisit Vejjajiva, July 10 – Photo: VGP | In all meetings, Vietnamese leaders warmly welcomed the visit made by the high-ranking delegation of the Thai Government, led by PM Abhisit Vejjajiva. They were convinced that the event will help cement and deepen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Việt Nam and Thailand. Both the hosts and the guest expressed their pleasures at the flourishing bilateral relationship in all fields, especially economics, trade and investment. Party chief Nông Đức Mạnh took the occasion to thank the Thai Government and people for supporting and assisting Vietnamese nationals residing in Thailand. He also confirmed Việt Nam’s consistent diplomatic policy on attaching importance to relations with Thailand, expecting that the friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries will continue to blossom.  | | PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (left) and Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva (right) inspect guards of honor, Hà Nội, July 10 – Photo: VGP | Earlier, in their talks, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and PM Abhisit Vejjajiva affirmed their determination to make the Việt Nam-Thailand relationship more effective, agreeing to boost the bilateral ties in the areas of economics, trade, investment, culture, education and training, healthcare, technology, and tourism. The two sides were unanimous in reviewing the current cooperative mechanisms, vowing to early hold meetings of the trade sub-committee of the Việt Nam-Thailand Joint Committee as well as conduct joint sea patrols, fight agaisnt terrorist activities and cross-boder crimes.  | | PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (right) welcomes his Thai counterpart (left), July 10 – Photo: VGP | Regarding regional and international issues of common concern, the two leaders pledged to continue working together on regional forums, especially ASEAN, so as to convert the bloc into a powerful community. Both sides also vowed to shake hands with each other and with other Mekong Delta countries in order to exploit and protect the water resource for the sake of all stakeholders.  | | PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng hosts the talks with the Thai government delegation, July 10 - Photo: VGP | Thailand’s PM Abhisit Vejjajiva congratulated Việt Nam on its great achievements during the cause of renovation, national development and international integration. Highly speaking of the host country’s rising prestige and position in the region and the world, the guest showed his confidence that Việt Nam will quickly overcome negative impacts of the current global financial and economic crisis, gaining greater achievements. Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva stated that Thailand always considers Việt Nam an important strategic partner and wants to consolidate and strengthen the bilateral ties in the future. By Hồng Thúy | 