Deputy Minister Nguyen Nhat and the delegation of Ministry of Transport at the meeting
At the Meeting, Deputy Minister of Transport of Vietnam Nguyen Nhat asserts that in the context of ASEAN being completing the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in the late 2015, the joint cabinet meeting between the two Governments has further tightened mutual cooperation in pivotal fields, including transportation, making contribution to the development of the two nations and elevating the position of each state in the region. Ministry of Transport of Vietnam highly appreciates the regard and support given by Ministry of Transport of Thailand in general and Minister of Transport of Thailand in particular with respect to the development of Vietnam’s transport infrastructure.
The Deputy Minister emphasizes that Vietnam and Thailand have come to an agreement to open bus routes connecting Vietnam – Laos – Thailand. Vietnam proposes an additional route in this network, which is Nona Khaki (Thailand) – Vientiane (Laos) – Hanoi (Vietnam) route. Simultaneously, one in five passenger transport routes connecting 3 countries shall be chosen for pilot purpose in which enterprises, state organizations of the parties shall be invited to examine journeys, routes, needs for transporting passengers, signs, road infrastructure among parties prior to the conclusion of the memorandum.
Regarding the cooperation in maritime sector, Deputy Minister Nguyen Nhat recommends that Thailand facilitates and reduces administrative procedures for ships, cargo, and crew when entering into Thailand’s ports; decreasing fees and charges for immigration procedures of ships at a reasonable rate. Deputy Minister expects that the two parties will soon establish Research team on coastal transport route from the eastern coast of Thailand to Southern coast of Vietnam so as to promote the opening of those routes (doing research on types of cargo, types of ships, connecting seaports etc.).
With respect to the policy regime facilitating the operation of airlines, Deputy Minister Nguyen Nhat proposes that Thailand shall support and promptly give permission for regular exploitation for aviation joint venture Thai – Viet jet. It is expected that this airline will exploit regular domestic and international flights from/ to Thailand since September, 2015.
At the meeting, Minister of Transport of Thailand Praying Jun tong highly appreciates the cooperation in transport between the two countries. For recommendations offered by Deputy Minister Nguyen Nhat, Minister Praying Jun tong assigns related units of the Ministry to promptly combine with Vietnamese side and relative nations to early complete basic contents within September of 2015 so that the whole content for cooperation shall be completed in 11/2015 (on the occasion of ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting).