(VOV) Thailand’s Agriculture and Cooperatives Deputy Minister Nattawut Saikuar said on Monday that the world’s three biggest exporters of natural rubber, including Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia need to strengthen their ties with Vietnam.

This would ensure prices and the production of rubber for export, helping to increase the incomes of rubber growers. Saikuar said that Thailand will step up rubber cooperation with Vietnam, the world’s 4^th biggest exporter of natural rubber, through diplomatic channels. He said Thailand sees lowering rubber production as a good way of forcing prices up again. Thailand is also considering reducing its acreage rubber trees to raise prices on the global market.

                                      Xuan Son, VOV Correspondent in Thailand