(VOV) - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has received Thailand’s Defence Minister, General Sukumpol Suwanatat, who is on a working visit to Vietnam. At a reception on Wednesday, PM considered the visit as a practical contribution to strengthening multifaceted cooperation between the two countries as well as promoting peace, cooperation and development in the region.

Regarding the importance of relations between Vietnam and Thailand which is its neighbouring country, Vietnam will do all it can to elevate them to a higher level, Mr Dung said. The government leader asked the two defense ministries to go ahead with cooperation plans, especially for joint sea patrols and air force exercises.

General Sukumpol Suwanatat told Mr Dung that both sides compared notes on regional and international issues of common concern and agreed to promote the exchange of visits by army delegations from both countries. The Thai Defence Chief affirmed that his ministry will closely coordinate with its Vietnamese counterpart to effectively implement the cooperation agreements reached by both sides with the aim of boosting bilateral cooperation in various fields.