HCM City (VNA) – The Thai ConsulateGeneral in Ho Chi Minh City held a cere🎀mony on December 5 to celebrate the 96th National Day of Thailand (De🅷cember 5, 1927 -2023), which is also the birth anniversary of late KingBhumibol Adulyadej and Thailand's Father's Day.

Speaking at the ceremony, Thai Consul General WirakaMoodhitaporn said that 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of Thailand –Vietnam Strategic Partnership. The two countries have a close-kit relationship,particularly in trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges. The two countries are currently each other's sixth largest trading partner in the world,the second largest in ASEAN and they have set a bilateral tradeturnover target of 25 billion USD within the next two years. The diplomat affirmed that Thailand pledges tointensify stronger partnerships and strengthen economic ties with all partners,especially in the ASEAN and the Greater Mekong Sub-regions and Vietnam is one ofThailand’s important partners in the region. She also affirmed thatthe Thai Consulate General and Thai governmentagencies in HCM City are always committed to promoting effectivepartnerships between the two countries in all areas. Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of themunicipal People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan said that HCM City has always treasuredthe relationship with Thailand and hoped to contribute to the strong andintensive development of the enhanced strategic partnership between Vietnam andThailand by bolstering trade, investment, cultural, technology andpeople-to-people exchanges, among others. He congratulated Thailand on its significant achievements over the past nearly 100 years and stressed that Vietnam and Thailand were thefirst two countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) upgradedtheir relationship to the Strategic Partnership in 2013 and are the only two countriesin the region to lift their relations to the Enhanced Strategic Partnership,demonstrating a high level of political commitment as well as close connection in economic benefits between the two countries. The official said the southern largest economic hub always encourages and welcomes Thaibusinesses to come and seek development opportunities in the coming time.The city has also hosted several cultural, educational exchanges andvolunteer activities between the two countries. Hoan also expressed his belief that the tiesbetween HCM City and Thailand will continue to prosper sustainably forthe friendship and mutual benefits of the two nations' people, thus contributing to the stabilityand prosperity of the ASEAN region./.