State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc is scheduled to visit Thailand at the invitation of Prime Minister Paryut Chanocha and attend the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting to be held in Bangkok from November 16-19, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Source: VNA

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the strengthened strategic partnership between Vietnam and Thailand has made significant progress over the years, despite the severe impacts of Covid-19.

Thailand is currently Vietnam's largest trading partner among ASEAN members. In 2021, bilateral trade turnover rose by 18 % year-on-year to USD 18.8 billion. In the first nine months of 2022, the figure reached US$16.1 billion, up 17.2 %.

The 29th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting will occur from November 14-19. Established in 1989, APEC is a regional economic forum aimed at harnessing the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific.

Vietnam joined the forum in 1998 and served as the summit host twice, in 2006 and 2017.

Thailand is hosting APEC 2022 with the theme "Open. Connect. Balance." This implies the country's priorities for APEC to be open to all opportunities, connected in all dimensions, and balanced in all aspects.