MFA:Vietnam understands Thailand's situation

BANGKOK, June 5 (TNA) - Vietnam appears to understand Thailand's updated situation and expresses Hanoi's confidence that the domestic situation is returning to normal soon. Thai Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow told TNA of the positive response on Thursday, after his meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi earlier in the day. Sihasak said he had briefed Minh on Thailand's updated situation and why the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has temporarily seized the national administrative power since May 22, 2014. Sihasak revealed he had told Minh that the bloodless coup was aimed to help restore peace and to strengthen politics in Thailand, while the Vietnamese deputy prime minister thanked him for the briefing, explaining that Vietnam views Thailand, the 2nd largest economy in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after Singapore, has a significant role and remains Hanoi’s strategic partner and Vietnam was, therefore, concerned over the situation in Thailand. Vietnam, Sihasak acknowledged, adheres to non-interference policy, but Hanoi has been closely monitoring the situation in Thailand and believes that operational steps announced by the NCPO on building national reconciliation and holding a fresh general election should lead to the improving situation in Thailand without any concern for Vietnamese visitors now. According to the senior official, he had requested Vietnam to support Thailand on international forums, such as the ASEAN-Europe Economic Dialogue, as some countries have pressured by downsizing their relations with Bangkok following the May 22 coup. The senior Thai official expressed his optimism that, like Vietnam, other ASEAN fellow member countries would also understand Thailand. (TNA)