Visa free travel deal with Vietnam by May Thailand expects to resolve a dispute over a visafree pact with Vietnam quickly so that an agreement can be signed during a visit by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Khai in May, a foreign ministry source said yesterday. Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan will raise the issue with his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Dy Nien, during the latter’s official visit starting today. The bilateral pact, which will enable Thais and Vietnamese to travel to each other’s countries without a visa, was initially scheduled to be signed during Nguyen Dy Nien’s visit. But it was postponed because the two sides could not agree on a few clauses. "We expect that the issue will be solved at the earliest, so that both countries can sign the agreement during the visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Khai, scheduled for May," the source said. There were only a few minor points that needed further discussion, he said. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Don Pramudwinai said that during the visit of Nguyen Dy Nien, both countries would seek more cooperation on trade and investment. "Both sides will exchange information and ideas regarding Asean, as next year Vietnam will assume the Asean chairmanship from Thailand," he said. Nguyen Dy Nien, who was appointed foreign minister only recently, is due pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai tomorrow, before being granted an audience with HM the King. Later, he will hold a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan, who will host a dinner reception in his honour. Nguyen Dy Nien will depart for Singapore on Thursday. The Nation (of Bangkok) - April 29, 2000.