(VOVworld) – Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on Wednesday visited an agricultural project set up by Thailand’s Royal Family to support the poor and Thammasat University as part of his ongoing official visit there. The agricultural project known as Royal Chitralada Project was an initiative of King Bhumidol Adujadej. It aims to support sustainable agricultural and rural development with a focus on agriculture, the environment, healthcare, training, the protection of water resources, communications, social welfare and credit support for the poor.

During his visit to Thammasat University, one of the most prestigious universities in Thailand, Party leader Trong received an honorary doctorate in political studies. Trong said he hoped Thailand the Thammasat University would cooperate more closely with Vietnam in education and personnel training: “It’s my honor to receive this doctorate, which is vivid proof of the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand. Both countries have many things in common regarding our traditional values and have become important partners in such areas as politics, economics, security and defense. This is the basis for the establishment of a strategic partnership between Vietnam and Thailand.”

The Thai media widely covered the Vietnamese Party leader’s visit, considering it a historical one in the two countries’ growing relationship. They said the outcomes of the talks between Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the Vietnamese party leader and their joint statement will bolster the strategic partnership and deepen comprehensive cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally. Some major newspapers stressed the good prospects for effective cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand in the fields of economics, trade, investment, maritime security, and regional integration for their mutual benefit and in ASEAN’s interest.