The agreement came during talks between Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his visiting Thai counterpart, Surayud Chulanont, on Thursday in Hanoi.

Dung said the visit by the new Thai premier, in the context of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Aug. 6, was a clear demonstration of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Chulanont said the Thai government gave priority to relations with neighboring countries, including Vietnam.

The two leaders agreed to maintain the existing cooperative mechanism, such as joint cabinet meetings and meetings of the joint committee on economic, cultural, scientific and technological cooperation, as well as security and political cooperation and political consultation between the two foreign ministries.

They also expressed happiness at the two countries' cooperation in agriculture, transport, tourism, security, defense, and legal matters.

Both agreed to prioritize co-ordination and cooperation in regional and international forums like the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Asia-Europe Meeting, Greater Mekong Sub-region, and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy.

On the same day the Thai prime minister also met President Nguyen Minh Triet, who said he was pleased with the outcome of the talks held earlier between Surayud and Dung.

Triet said Vietnam had always attached great importance to strengthening friendship and cooperation with its neighbors, including Thailand.

He also hoped that the situation in Thailand would quickly stabilize to enable the country to achieve further development and prosperity.

Source: VNA