A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the 86th birth anniversary of the Thai King and Thailand’s National Day (December 5).

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City Truong Hoang said, over the past years, the two countries have maintained high level delegation exchanges and bolstered two-way economic-trade ties.

Encouraging achievements were also seen in bilateral cooperation in the fields of defence and security, culture, tourism and education and training, he added.

Thailand is the ninth largest foreign investor in Vietnam with 315 projects worth 6.38 billion USD, while Vietnam is investing over 12 million USD in nine projects in Thailand.

Ho Chi Minh City is now home to more than 100 Thai investment projects, with total capital amounting to over 127 million USD.

Panpimon Suwannaponge, Thai Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City said the organisation of the ceremony manifests the close relations between Thailand and Vietnam in all fields and at all levels.

According to the Thai diplomat, 2013 marks an important milestone in the bilateral ties since Vietnam and Thailand have officially lift the relation to strategic partnership.

On the occasion, the Thai businesses association in the city presented 20 scholarships to underprivileged students in the southern region. The Thai Consulate General also donated 100 million VND (4,734 USD) and 800 THB (25 USD) to the Vietnam-Thailand charity fund.

Source: VNA