Anutin denies Cambodia talks claim as Thailand-Vietnam ties advance
Government denies secret Anutin-Hun Manet talks, saying PM’s Vietnam trip focused on trade, security and cooperation with To Lam
- The government denied claims that PM Anutin Charnvirakul held secret or formal talks with Cambodian PM Hun Manet in Vietnam, saying the exchange was only a diplomatic greeting before the ASEAN Future Forum.
- Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said there was no Thailand-Cambodia meeting, no hidden agenda and no agreement linked to the encounter.
- During the same Vietnam trip, Anutin met Vietnamese President To Lam to follow up on bilateral cooperation after To Lam’s recent official visit to Thailand.
- Thailand and Vietnam discussed trade targets, the Three Connects strategy, green economy cooperation, security and law-enforcement mechanisms, support for Thai investors in Vietnam, and Thailand’s plan to provide 12 cranes as a symbol of friendship.
The Thai government has denied foreign media claims that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul held a formal or secret meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet in Vietnam, saying the two leaders merely exchanged greetings in line with diplomatic protocol.
Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek clarified the issue after foreign media outlet Fresh News published images and a message claiming that Hun Manet had spent time in a formal meeting with Anutin before attending the opening ceremony of the 3rd ASEAN Future Forum in Hanoi.
Rachada said the scene shown in the images was only a normal exchange of greetings between national leaders before the event began, and that no meeting had been arranged.
“There is nothing hidden. It was straightforward. There was no meeting,” she wrote on her personal Facebook page.
She said Anutin had travelled to Vietnam to attend the ASEAN Future Forum, where several ASEAN leaders were also present.
Rachada stressed that the two leaders greeted each other before the event began as a matter of diplomatic courtesy. They were seated and spoke while waiting for the opening ceremony and speeches to begin.
“There was no meeting between Thailand and Cambodia in any way. It was only a conversation between leaders while waiting for the event to open and for speeches to be delivered,” she said.
The government emphasised that the encounter between the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers at the ASEAN Future Forum followed normal diplomatic practice. It said there was no bilateral meeting, no hidden agenda and no agreement attached to the exchange, contrary to what had been suggested by the foreign media report.
Anutin meets Vietnam’s To Lam in Hanoi
Rachada also reported that at 11am local time in Hanoi, the same time as Thailand, Anutin paid a courtesy call on To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam, at the Stateroom of the Presidential Palace, also known as Tonkin Palace.
The meeting was aimed at carrying forward cooperation and following up on discussions between the two sides after the Vietnamese president’s official visit to Thailand the previous week.
After the talks, Rachada outlined the main points of the meeting, which focused on deepening political trust, accelerating bilateral cooperation, expanding trade, strengthening security ties and supporting Thai investment in Vietnam.
1. Thailand highlights successful visit and close leadership ties
To Lam thanked the Thai government for the warm welcome extended to him during his visit to Thailand, which he described as highly successful and warmly received by people in both countries.
He also welcomed Anutin’s visit to Vietnam, saying it was important for maintaining the momentum of cooperation between the two countries.
Anutin thanked the Vietnamese president for receiving him and hosting a luncheon. In a friendly exchange, he said he had become more punctual over the past two weeks because he had been using the watch given to him by To Lam during the Vietnamese president’s visit to Thailand.
The prime minister said the talks in Bangkok had produced significant business cooperation, while Thai people had widely praised the Vietnamese president and his spouse.
Anutin also said his delegation included nine ministers and all commanders-in-chief of the armed forces, reflecting Thailand’s intention to upgrade cooperation with Vietnam in every dimension.
2. Trade target and Three Connects strategy pushed forward
Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing the Thailand-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership.
To Lam proposed that ministers and relevant agencies from both countries meet more closely through existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Thailand-Vietnam Joint Cabinet Retreat, while pushing ahead with the Three Connects strategy.
The two sides also discussed their shared trade target of US$25 billion, before expanding it to US$50 billion in the future.
Anutin confirmed that Thailand was ready to support the Three Connects strategy, particularly cooperation on the green economy and efforts to reach the Net Zero target.
He expressed confidence that bilateral trade could reach US$25 billion this year and had the potential to expand to US$30 billion in the near future.
3. Security and law-enforcement cooperation discussed
To Lam proposed developing security cooperation mechanisms between Thailand and Vietnam, covering the armed forces, security agencies and maritime authorities.
He also raised the possibility of an extradition treaty and cooperation to address the issue of people staying illegally in Thailand.
Anutin said the participation of Thailand’s defence minister and all armed forces chiefs in the Vietnam visit reflected the country’s seriousness about strengthening security cooperation.
He proposed setting up a 2+2 consultation mechanism between the foreign and defence ministers of the two countries.
Thailand also reaffirmed that it would not allow its territory to be used for activities against friendly countries and was ready to fully enforce the law. It also supported convening a joint working group on the issue as soon as possible.
5. Thai investors’ concerns raised
Anutin raised concerns from Thai businesses that have operated in Vietnam for more than 30 years, particularly over regulatory changes and law enforcement that could affect business operations.
He also referred to cases in which some companies were still awaiting contractual payments.
To Lam said the Vietnamese government attached importance to Thai investors, describing them as leading companies that had played an important role in Vietnam’s economic development.
He stressed that Vietnam would not enforce laws retroactively and had instructed relevant agencies to listen to investors and work closely to resolve their problems.
5. Twelve cranes to symbolise Thai-Vietnam friendship
Thailand also confirmed its readiness to provide 12 cranes to Vietnam within this year as a symbol of friendship, cooperation on natural resource conservation and close people-to-people ties between the two countries.
The gesture reflects the shared vision of “joining hands and growing together” in a concrete way.
The government’s clarification over Anutin’s brief exchange with Hun Manet came alongside the broader Vietnam mission, which focused on regional cooperation, trade, investment, security and the long-term Thailand-Vietnam partnership rather than any separate Thailand-Cambodia negotiation.
