Thailand, EU Affirm Fostering Strong Bilateral Ties

[webfact]

Thailand, EU affirm fostering strong bilateral ties

BANGKOK, May 3 - Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday met the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton and affirmed her intention to foster strong bilateral economic and political relations between Thailand and Europe.

Ms Yingluck welcomed Ms Ashton at Government House and hailed the success of the 19th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting in Brunei April 26-27 which also marked the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-EU relations.

Ms Ashton told the premier that she intended to visit Thailand after the Brunei meeting because the EU considers friendship with Thailand as important and wants to see stronger relations in the future.

Ms Yingluck said that Thailand also wanted to expand cooperation with EU in all dimensions, particularly regarding the economy and trade and wants to upgrade bilateral political relations as strategic partners.

Both sides also agreed to move forward talks to achieve a Thai-EU free trade agreement.

The Thai premier assured the EU representative about the strong growth of the Thai economy, which is expected to expand at 5.5-6.5 per cent in 2012.

After that, Ms Yingluck has welcomed Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi during his visit to Thailand as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ms Yingluck praised the warm diplomatic ties between Thailand and Hungary, and beyond trade and investment, the two sides have developed cooperation in the fields of tourism, education and culture.

She said Hungary was acknowledged for its expertise in water management which could benefit Thailand if both countries exchange knowledge and experience in water resource management. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-05-03

[theblether]

The EU should use it's know how and muscle to encourage, and in some cases, force change in Thailand.

Encouragement would be in issues such as water management, force would be to force the Thai government to confront issues such as the jetski operators.

We all know these guys are the bain of European tourists lives, the BiB are useless or complicit, the Thai government could send in the Military Police to sort it out. They swept into CM and did it with the old Spicey club, the MP's closed it down, and the BiB could do nothing about it even though they effectively owned the club.

The point is, the government has the tools to cut through abuse and corruption. They should be using them more, and the EU should be encouraging it....in fact, in some cases, forcing it.

[bigbamboo]

What a surprise! Another EU freeloading mandarin wants close ties with a country that's hot and sunny in the cold European winter months!

[webfact]

INTERVIEW

PM's Germany trip expected to give momentum to bilateral trade

Achara Deboonme

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- The German-Thai Chamber of Commerce foresees a bigger window of opportunity to boost bilateral trade after the visit in July of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to the world's fourth-largest economy.

The reopening of Myanmar is also expected to boost the chamber's role in promoting German investment in the country, after the European Union temporarily lifted sanctions against the country, paving the way for European firms to invest for the first time in decades.

Thailand's Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul confirmed last weekend that Yingluck will visit Germany on July 24. In 2012, Germany and Thailand are commemorating the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations through the signing of the Friendship, Trade and Shipping Treaty on February 7, 1862. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the trade chamber, which has more than 500 German companies as members.

Karl-Heinz Heckhausen, president of the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, said Thai companies accompanying the delegation would visit different regions of Germany and get updated on the 3 million German firms which are of small to multinational size. Aside from promoting bilateral trade, the chamber is hopeful of opening up opportunities for Thai-German joint ventures.

"Despite the airport shutdown and shooting [in 2009 and 2010], history shows that Thailand is safe. It's the best place to invest. Thai companies also must venture out of the country. Through this trip, they will learn more about Germany's diversified economy," he said.

Last year, German firms won Board of Investment approval for 36 investment projects.

-- The Nation 2012-05-03

[h90]

The EU should use it's know how and muscle to encourage, and in some cases, force change in Thailand.

Encouragement would be in issues such as water management, force would be to force the Thai government to confront issues such as the jetski operators.

We all know these guys are the bain of European tourists lives, the BiB are useless or complicit, the Thai government could send in the Military Police to sort it out. They swept into CM and did it with the old Spicey club, the MP's closed it down, and the BiB could do nothing about it even though they effectively owned the club.

The point is, the government has the tools to cut through abuse and corruption. They should be using them more, and the EU should be encouraging it....in fact, in some cases, forcing it.

Why should the EU do that?

Since a while the EU doesn't care their people anymore. If Thailand would hurt the feelings of a banker a french aircraft carrier would stay close to Phuket but everything else doesn't count.

[anterian]

"She said Hungary was acknowledged for its expertise in water management"

Is this the sort of expertise she means?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317829/Hungary-toxic-sludge-2-killed-mud-floods-factorys-dam-breaks.html