Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has asked Vietnam to support Thailand in its bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during 2017-2018.
Gen Prawit raised the issue while paying a courtesy call on Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during a visit to Vietnam from Tuesday to yesterday, Defence spokesman Kongcheep Tantravanich said.
Thailand once served as a non-permanent member of UNSC between 1985 and 1986.
Gen Prawit, who is also the defence minister, was invited by the Vietnamese Defence Ministry to strengthen ties between the two countries and to follow up on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s visit to the country in November last year.
He also paid a courtesy call on Vietnam's Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh to discuss security and military cooperation.
Gen Prawit proposed the formation of a joint panel to follow up on agreements made by the two countries, including cooperation on military training, education, military science and technology, defence industries and regional security.
Gen Prawit also sought cooperation in maritime security between the two nations, proposing joint sea patrols to boost safety for fishermen from both countries, the spokesman said.
Gen Thanh agreed with all the proposals and gave the green light to set up the joint panel to work with the various agencies concerned, Col Kongcheep said.
The Vietnamese defence minister also asked Gen Prawit to help solve any problems that may occur by adhering to humanitarian principles.
He asked Thailand to speed up legal processes in tackling problems involving Vietnamese citizens.
He also thanked Thailand for taking good care of Vietnamese people who migrate to Thailand as well as labourers, Col Kongcheep said.