Thai, Vietnamese journalists celebrate 20th anniversary media relations

BANGKOK, November 15 (TNA) - The Confederation of Thai Journalists (CTJ) and the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA) have celebrated the 20th anniversary of media relations between Thailand and Vietnam. Minister Attached to the Prime Minister Warathep Rattanakorn, who is also Thai Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, on Friday presided over an event in Bangkok marking the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the media relations between the CTJ and the VJA. Warathep said sound relations that the two media organizations have developed and maintained over the past two decades have benefited information and cultural exchanges between Thailand and Vietnam and have also promoted good understanding in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which Thailand and Vietnam are member countries. Participants in the event include CTJ Chief Wichai Walaphol, VJA Chief Nguyen Huu Tuan, 10 Vietnamese journalists and the Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand. A cultural and recreational tour to Thailand's central Ayuthaya Province and a study trip to Thai media organizations were also included as part of the celebration. CTJ and VJA signed a mutual cooperation agreement in Bangkok in 1990, aimed mainly to create sound relations between mass media and people of the two ASEAN neighbours, as well as to support national development of both countries and exchange of experiences between Thai and Vietnamese journalists, covering their exchanged visits to the other country. At the government level, Bangkok and Hanoi have also developed strong friendship, seen by, among others, a visit to Thailand by the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Ph Trong, from June 25-27, during which Bangkok and Hanoi agreed to become strategic partners in the lead-up to the ASEAN Community, set to be formed by 2015. (TNA)