Vietnam and Thailand, the world’s two largest rice exporters, have agreed to increase the sharing of information on rice exports to stabilise the food market and maintain food security.

They will also speed up negotiations of a labour cooperation agreement, work closely on the fight against human trafficking and gender equality promotion, and expand cooperation in education-training and culture.

The agreement was reached during talks in Bangkok on June 22 between Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan who is visiting Thailand.

Shinawatra and Doan shared the view that both sides will create fabourable conditions for the establishment of a cultural and language centre in Thailand to teach the Vietnamese language and promote the Vietnamese culture.

They also agreed to support Vietnamese nationals in Thailand integrating into their local communities, contributing to socio-economic development in the country of their residence as well as to friendship between the two countries.

Doan hailed Thailand’s recent development achievements, especially its extraordinary efforts in overcoming the disastrous floods last year. She expressed her belief that Thailand will reap greater achievements in building a prosperous nation and playing an active role in the region and the world.

Vietnam attaches great importance to strengthening the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Thailand, bilaterally and multilaterally, said Doan.

Shinawatra said she believes that the visit will contribute to the time-honoured friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Both host and guest agreed to increase cooperation within the regional and sub-regional cooperation framework, saying Vietnam and Thailand will work with parties concerned on an overall study of the impact of hydro-power plants on the Mekong River.

They welcomed the results of a recent Deputy Foreign Ministerial Conference of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, demonstrating the their political resolve to fully tap into the potential of the East-West Economic Corridor, aiming to foster trade, investment and tourism development in the three countries.

They agreed to conduct a second joint Cabinet meeting and the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Trade Cooperation this year.

The same day, Vice President Doan visited the Vietnamese Embassy headquarters and met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Thailand./.