When To Lam -- Vietnam's President and General Secretary of the Communist Party -- arrives in Bangkok tomorrow, he will find a different Thailand, one increasingly prepared to align itself with Vietnam's strategic and economic trajectory. Over the past two decades, bilateral relations have grown increasingly dynamic. It is no exaggeration to say that Vietnam has become one of Thailand's closest neighbours despite the absence of a shared border. This state visit will further reinforce the two countries' commitment as comprehensive strategic partners.
Mr To's three-day trip is historic, as he simultaneously holds the posts of President and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. His visit comes at a time of profound geopolitical flux. Amid shifting global dynamics, Vietnam has emerged as one of the region's key economic drivers. With projected GDP growth of 8% this year -- the highest in Southeast Asia -- Vietnam is eager to raise its regional and international profile and play a larger role in shaping the regional order. To achieve its ambition of becoming a high-income country by 2045, Vietnam will need a stable region anchored in a rules-based international order.
