Minister Defends Pm's Trips

[Lite Beer]

Minister defends PM's trips

Piyanart Srivalo,

Supalak Kanchanakhundee

The Nation on Sunday

BANGKOK: -- Yingluck keen to boost economic ties: Surapong

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's frequent overseas visits - some 30 trips to 17 countries since assuming the post a little over 14 months ago - have been aimed at boosting confidence in the Thai economy and serve as an indication of the priority she places on foreign policy, her foreign minister says.

The remark by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul followed allegations by the Democrat Party that the prime minister's busy schedule is designed to allow her to avoid opposition queries in Parliament.

This month, the prime minister's overseas trips will keep her busy for almost the entire month, leaving only a few days for the censure debate. She is scheduled to visit the United Kingdom from tomorrow through Wednesday and to attend the Asean Summit in Phnom Penh from November 17-20.

Yingluck has appeared to use her overseas trips in attempting to win the international community's acceptance of her as Thailand's first woman prime minister. Her speeches at foreign events often focus on her government's projects relating to women, as well as her gender. Recently, she famously offered to help ease the South China Sea territorial spats with "a woman's touch".

She was No 30 on Forbes magazine's list of 100 influential women around the world, jumping from 59th last year. The PM's speeches are prepared by her secretary-general, Suranand Vejjajiva, with the help of English-language experts from the Foreign Ministry.

According to sources, Yingluck's brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, often has input with the PM's foreign affairs team on issues that he considers interesting. There have been follow-ups on policies from the time Thaksin was in power, including a joint Cabinet meeting with a neighbouring country.

Surapong said the PM has made trips to 17 countries and used these opportunities to strengthen bilateral relations and assure that stability has returned to the Thai political scene.

The foreign minister, standing in for the PM during the weekly TV programme "The Yingluck Government Meets the People", reported his ministry’s performance during the past year. He said the Yingluck government has attended to foreign policy, particularly with visits to foreign countries and participation in international conferences and meetings.

He said the premier has built confidence in the international community about the Thai economy and invited businesses to invest here.

She has also clarified the situation in the South to Muslim nations.

-- The Nation 2012-11-11

[asiawatcher]

More spin and justification for not willing to face her accusers. By being deliberately absent she is clearly portraying both arrogance and ignorance. PTP in its own right is guilty of both these traist however it will be interesting to see how the Dems and other Opposition decide to force the issue. You can hear Thaksin in the background - "nah ... just ignore them..."

[OzMick]

If the PM's world discovery tour is doing such great things for Thailand, why does the DPM/FM feel he needs to defend them?

[rheinwiese]

Yingluck keen to boost economic ties: Surapong

Well, wouldn't that be your's or the Commerce Minister's job?

[Halion]

"Her speeches at foreign events often focus on her government's projects relating to women, as well as her gender' !!!

Interesting , what exactly is Yinglucks gender ?

[drdoom6996]

More Soundbites. She is worthless!

[animatic]

More likely it is an indication of the massive need for the

face saving damage control roadshows she has had to go on

to KEEP business here, after her start up term showed they

sunk whole nation underwater to save part of a rice crop,

that they can not sell now from over pricing way far out of the market,

and their idiotic rice pledging costing huge amounts of moldering rice,

to go unsold, but the political cronies delivering the Issan vote happy enough.

Yeah she has every reason not to be around, because if she's not here

when the politically needed, but practically 'stump stupid' decisions get made,

then she lasts longer in the few hours she will donate to her censure discussion.

I no here, I no do, I no fault, I not know, I go now.

Talk toi the hand. Bye bye, off to somewhere else.

Edited November 11, 2012 by animatic

[Baerboxer]

Complete waste of space. No idea what the problems are, let alone how to address them. Big brother tells her where to go, who to see, and what to say. Still, she enjoys the shopping and all those nights away in luxury hotels. And, it's all free. - well not for the tax payers of course.

[theajarn]

More Soundbites. She is worthless!

Not quite. She's the world's biggest ho now. 30th most 'influential' person. Influence is easily gained by ________ .

[hellodolly]

Well she may in all fact be the 30 most influential women in the world today.

That doesn't mean she is a positive influence.

As for and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul defending her.

Well what choice did he have.

Besides running from country to country runs in the family.

Also shows a lack of trust in her minister of commerce.

Also shows she is not really needed at home.

Big Brother will take care of business at home through his hired politicians.

[khunken]

Well done Surapong - it just does show how useless you are.