Thai PM Begins First Official Visit To Neighbouring Countries

[george]

Thai PM begins first official visit to Lao PDR

BANGKOK: -- Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday kicked off an official visit to the Lao Peoples' Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), his first official visit since assuming office last December, aiming at strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation, according to a statement issued by the Thai Foreign Ministry.

Before departing Bangkok Mr. Abhisit said that he hoped his visit will help foster improved bilateral relations and cooperation. His aircraft was expected to touch down in Vientiane. the Lao capital, at 10:30am.

The one-day official visit marks the first of the premier's customary introductory visits to fellow member countries of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN), at the invitation of his Laotian counterpart, Bouasone Bouphavanh.

Among the Thai premier's entourage is Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda.

Thailand as the current chair of ASEAN is scheduled to host the regional group summit in the resort town of Hua Hin February 27-March 1.

High on the agenda of the two leaders' bilateral talks are cooperation on energy and electricity, trade and investment, transport network development and Lao labour to be employed in Thailand.

The talks will focus on securing further cooperation for tangible results that will bring benefits to people of the two countries and the region, the statement said.

Thailand is presently Lao PDR's leading trading partner with bilateral trade reaching Bt 60 billion in 2007. Thailand is also a major foreign investor in Laos, investing US$1.3 billion in 169 projects during the period 2001-2008, according to the ministry.

The Thai premier will also pay a courtesy call on Thongsing Thammavong, President of the Lao National Assembly.

Mr. Abhisit is scheduled to lay the foundation stone at the Thai-Lao Friendship Sports Arena funded with Thai government financial support of Bt90 million. It will be the primary venue for the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) hosted by Laos this year.

The Thai prime minister will meet Thai investors in Vientiane before returning to Bangkok Friday evening.

-- TNA 2009-01-23

[hardy1943]

It amazes me how the chummy up to the communist in Laos and I assume the military junta in Burma be next.

Both very repressive regimes.

[animatic]

You deal with the neighbors you got,

not the ones you wish you had.

[Seneque]

Among the Thai premier's entourage is Army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda.....

Therefore i tend to agree with yr comment ... Gen. Anupong is the real leader in Thailand now ...

[Martin]

Look at the geography, particularly the topography.

In the long term, good relations between Thailand and Laos are vital to both.

Thailand needs the hydro-generated electricity to come south to it from Laos, not all go north and east to China and Vietnam; and the only practical major links to the rest of the world for Laos are down the railway alongside Highway 2 in Thailand and on Highway 2 itself as long as diesel/gasoline is affordable.

I hope they are quietly agreeing to doing the preliminary studies to the double-tracking and electrification of the railway.

[ballpoint]

It amazes me how the chummy up to the communist in Laos and I assume the military junta in Burma be next.

Both very repressive regimes.

Show me a non-repressive Asean government that he could visit.

[malcy]

You deal with the neighbors you got,

not the ones you wish you had.

Very well said mate . Some people are not happy unless they are running thailand down .

[Pierrot]

It amazes me how the chummy up to the communist in Laos and I assume the military junta in Burma be next.

Both very repressive regimes.

Show me a non-repressive Asean government that he could visit.

It used to be Thailand

[ballpoint]

It amazes me how the chummy up to the communist in Laos and I assume the military junta in Burma be next.

Both very repressive regimes.

Show me a non-repressive Asean government that he could visit.

It used to be Thailand

Tell that to the South, the hill tribes and pretty much all the other minorities, who are non the less Thai citizens. Their repression began long before Thaksin, carried on under him, and continues to this day.

[Koo82]

As all Thais love Abhisit so much and he says he's the PM of every Thai, how about him taking a road trip to Laos via Udon Thani? He will have a chance to see how people up there live and gives them a chance to show their affection to him.

[phupaman]

Hi Koo.

Surely be the same for your friends wearing red with your favourite tv programme doing a friendly programme on their new tv channel from the deep south.

phupaman.

[TAWP]

As all Thais love Abhisit so much and he says he's the PM of every Thai, how about him taking a road trip to Laos via Udon Thani? He will have a chance to see how people up there live and gives them a chance to show their affection to him.

It's not a matter if he loves all Thai's, it's a matter of how many morons that are out to hurt people for no good reason.

Surely since you always want him to travel into places where there are an unusual high ratio of people that will perform attacks you are openly proclaiming that you would like the PM to be physically hurt?

Can you atleast be honest about it?

[Jai Dee]

Foreign Minister warmly welcomed on visit to Cambodia

Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Kasit Piromya paid an official visit to Cambodia as guest of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mr. Hor Namhong, between January 25 and 26.

During the visit, Mr. Kasit was graciously granted an audience by His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni. He paid courtesy calls on top Cambodian leaders, including Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly of Cambodia, and Samdech Akka Moha Thamma Pothisal Chea Sim, President of the Senate of Cambodia. He also met and held bilateral talks with his Cambodian counterpart.

In his discussions with the Cambodian leaders, the Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated the importance attached by the Thai Government to promoting stronger ties with neighbouring countries, especially Cambodia.

To this end, he underscored the Thai Government’s political will as well as the close cultural affinity and similarities between both nations which would serve as a strong foundation for closer bilateral ties.

Mr. Kasit suggested that there should be more exchanges of visits between both sides. In this connection, the Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated the invitation to His Majesty King Sihamoni to pay a state visit to Thailand as guests of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand.

The Thai Government was also pleased that, in February, Prime Minister Mr. Hun Sen would be traveling to Thailand to attend the 14th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Thailand’s southern seaside town of Cha Am and Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, while the Thai Minister of Defence, Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, would also visit Cambodia.

On bilateral cooperation, both sides agreed to resolve the border issue using peaceful means under the existing framework of the Joint Border Committee which is scheduled to hold its next meeting between February 2 and 4 in Thailand.

Both sides also agreed that redeploying the troops would be one of the topics to be discussed during the Thai Minister of Defence’s visit in February.

Mr. Kasit also informed his Cambodian counterpart that the Thai Cabinet is in the process of appointing the new Thai Chairman of the Sub-Joint Technical Committee (Sub-JTC) on maritime boundary so that discussions could be held, possibly in March.

Other issues discussed included the identification and the return of Cambodian artifacts and consular relations between Thailand and Cambodia. To follow up on these and other issues, both sides also agreed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation.

On sub-regional cooperation, both sides agreed to expedite cooperation within Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy or ACMECS, the regional economic cooperation group, including the ACMECS single visa scheme and the promotion of tourism through the Two Kingdoms/One Destination concept, and the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on contract farming.

On tourism cooperation, Cambodian Prime Minister Mr. Hun Sen also proposed that a meeting of the Emerald Triangle countries, namely, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, be held on the sidelines of the 14th ASEAN summit in Thailand. Increased cooperation on rice between Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam was also discussed.

As Thailand is the current ASEAN Chair, the Cambodian side also reiterated its readiness to work with Thailand to promote closer cooperation between ASEAN member states as well as with dialogue partners.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 28 January 2009

[Maestro]

A nonsensical post referring to a non-existing or fictitious “Democ Rat Party”, and the replies to this post, have been deleted.

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Maestro