Thailand, Canada hail 50th anniversary of close ties, to expand cooperation

BANGKOK, March 24 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday welcomed her Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper, now on three-day official visit, to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

After an official welcoming ceremony at Government House, Ms Yingluck and Mr Harper held talks and hailed the strong bilateral relations between the two countries which this year marked their 50th anniversary.

The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues including the prospect of expanded bilateral cooperation in various fields such as trade and investment promotion.

Ms Yingluck said Thailand wants to increase its export value to Canada, particularly in regard to frozen seafood, rice, fruits and beans, rubber and rubber products, electronics parts and gems.

Thailand and Canada expect to begin negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA), which could be a major mechanism to expand trade between the two countries.

The kingdom wants also to invite Canadian business investment in Thailand in electronics, machinery, automobile production, and information technology as well as clean technology, environmental protection and biotechnology, she said.

PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) has invested in a Canadian oil sands project. Ms Yingluck asked the Canadian government to support the operations of Thai firms in Canada.

Thailand and Canada also agreed to boost cooperation in terms of technology, science and innovation to raise competitiveness in areas such as food science technology development; to utilise space and satellite technology to help monitoring and issue warnings in case of natural disaster; and to help the tourism industry by facilitating on visa application procedures.

Mr Harper’s official visit not only commemorates the 50th anniversary of Thai-Canadian diplomatic relations, but reaffirms the long-lasting and cordial relations between the two countries, Ms Yingluck said.

Thailand, as the country coordinator of ASEAN-Canada relations during 2009-2012, will also take this opportunity to highlight the auspicious occasion of the 35th Anniversary of ASEAN-Canada dialogue relations this year.

The Thailand visit is part of Mr Harper's Asian tour that will take him to Japan Sunday and Monday (March 25-26) and to the South Korean capital on Monday and Tuesday (March 26-27) where he will participate in the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-24

Canada, Thailand plan free trade talks

Bangkok, March 24, 2012 (AFP) - Canada and Thailand agreed on Friday to hold discussions on a free trade agreement between the two countries, during a visit to the kingdom by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, officials said.

Harper, who is in Asia for a regional mini-tour that will include a nuclear summit in Seoul, also discussed the issue of illegal human smuggling with his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra.

Thailand was a staging point for migrant ships bringing Tamil asylum seekers to Canada in recent years.

But the main focus was on the economy as the two leaders announced they had agreed to launch "exploratory talks" on a free trade accord.

"This will be yet another part of Canada's ambitious trade agenda. As part of our economic action plan, we are positioning Canada for a stronger role in the world with trade patterns shifting," Harper said.

"Thailand has a rapidly industrialising economy with 65 million consumers. Canadian businesses are already flourishing here, particularly in IT, agriculture and clean technology, and Canada is rapidly becoming an investment destination of choice for Thai businesses."

Harper was accompanied by his foreign affairs and trade ministers, as well as a delegation of business executives, as he sought to boost cooperation with the trade-dependent Southeast Asian economy.

Yingluck said the two countries aimed to raise relations to a "higher level."

She added: "Thailand also looks forward to welcoming Canadian investors to our electronics, machinery, automobile and information technology industry as well as cooperation on alternative and clean energy, environmental protection and biotechnology."

On March 25-26, Harper will make his third visit to Japan, Canada's fifth largest trading partner. In South Korea on March 26-27, Harper will join leaders of 53 other nations for a nuclear security summit.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-03-24