Thailand Looks To Solar Power

[george]

Thailand looks to solar power

BANGKOK: -- Solar power will be a major topic during bilateral talks between Thailand and Australia at this week's joint cabinet meeting in Canberra.

A Government spokesman Jakrapop Penkair said in Bangkok on Sunday Australia's expertise in the field of solar energy was one area the Thai Government was anxious to explore because of rising world oil prices.

The Thai Government would pursue alternative energy sources other than petrol or oil, Jakrapop said in an interview with AAP.

"The most interesting energy (source) we will be discussing is solar cell technology," he said.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is due to arrive in Australia on Sunday, accompanied by several members of his cabinet, including foreign affairs and commerce ministers.

The centrepiece of the visit will be the signing of a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.

But Jakrapop said the agenda also included a further easing of bilateral visa regulations, education promotion and agricultural cooperation as well as discussions on regional security and terrorism.

Visas to be relaxed

Visa regulations are expected to be relaxed for Australian tourists, business people, students and scholars, Jakrapop said.

Thai students on short term education visas will also be allowed to work while in Australia while the visa regulations are expected to be eased for Thais with special skills, such as chefs looking to work in Australia.

In the agricultural sector, Thailand is seeking increased cooperation with Australian farmers to boost output and lower production costs.

Thai Ministry of Commerce permanent secretary Karun Kittistaporn said Thailand and Australia needed to cooperate more rather than be regional economic competitors.

"We don't have products which are directly competing with each other but our products are complimentary, so we are partners in that sense," Karun said in a separate interview.

-- AAP 2004-07-