HANOI, June 5 — Vietnam is confident that Thailand’s political turmoil will end soon and the country return to normal following the bloodless May 22 coup staged by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said permanent secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow on Thursday.
Mr Sihasak’s comments were made after his talks with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi.
He said he briefed Mr Minh on Thailand’s current political situation and the reasons the NCPO had to seize administrative power and run the country temporarily.
The foreign ministry official said he had told Mr Minh that the bloodless coup would help restore peace and strengthen politics in Thailand in future.
Mr Minh thanked him for the briefing and said that Thailand has played a significant role and remains a strategic partner for Vietnam and was therefore concerned about political situation in the country, said Mr Sihasak
Vietnam has adhered to the principle of non-interference principle and was closely monitoring the situation in Thailand while it believed that an announcement by NCPO on building reconciliation and a plan to hold a general election would help improve the situation.
Vietnamese tourists visiting Thailand were also not worried, he said.
Mr Sihasak said he had asked Mr Minh to support Thailand on international forums such as the ASEAN-Europe Economic Dialogue after several countries downgraded relations with Thailand following the military coup.
He expressed optimism that fellow ASEAN member countries will continue to understand Thailand as this country is the second largest economy in the grouping.
