Chinese Premier To Visit Thailand Nov 20-21

[webfact]

Chinese Premier to visit Thailand Nov 20-21

By Digital Media

BANGKOK, Nov 14 - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will visit Bangkok as a guest of the Thai government next Tuesday and Wednesday, holding bilateral talks with his Thai counterpart to boost the ties between the two countries.

The Chinese leader's visit comes at an invitation of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The Nov 20-21 visit is considered the first official trip of the outgoing Chinese premier to the kingdom.

The two prime ministers will discuss and exchange views to promote bilateral relations and cooperation between Thailand and China as earlier agreed in the "Joint Statement Between the People’s Republic of China and Thailand on Establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership" during Ms Yingluck's visit to China in April.

The Chinese and Thai leaders are scheduled to witness the signing of several agreements between their countries on education, prisoners' extradition. They will also attend the inauguration of the Chinese Cultural Centre in Bangkok.

The Chinese premier will also meet Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda at his Si Sao Thewes Residence on the evening of Nov 21 before being granted an audience with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj Hospital, the last programme of his two-day visit.

Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's visit comes only one day after an official visit of US President Barack Obama, scheduled to visit Thailand on Sunday and meet with Ms Yingluck at Government House the same day.

Mr Obama will also be granted an audience with the Thai monarch Sunday evening and spend the night in Bangkok before leaving for Myanmar and Cambodia, as part of his Southeast Asian tour, the first overseas trip since he was re-elected as US president. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-11-14

[Padoek]

Money on the table; if the Presedent of the United States never came, neather would the Chinese Premier.

Edited November 14, 2012 by Scott

[asiawatcher]

This is a good move. Far more important than the US meeting.

[keemapoot]

This is a good move. Far more important than the US meeting.

Thank you for your intellectually stimulating and well thought-out response.

[Rancid]

The Chinese have some very advanced and creative techniques for embezeling from the Treasury, taking commisions on any activity in their district and stealing land from the peasants. They are also very skilled at getting their money offshore, arranging foreign passports and the artful use of tanks to suppress the masses. Obama may be able to share tips on getting kickbacks from the corrupt banking sector, how to promise the world and deliver nothing and some valuable pointers on how to disassemble the Constitution.

I expect Thai politicians and bureacrats to be anxiously waiting to learn from leaders of two of the major centres of statist fraud on the planet. Expect next year to be very profitable as new measures are implemented.

[Payboy]

Instead of bringing his own water like BO, Wen's just building another dam upstream the Mekong.

[Scott]

I believe there is an entire topic or two dedicated to the US President's visit. This one is about the Chinese Premier.

Stay on topic.

[geriatrickid]

This is a good move. Far more important than the US meeting.

How is the outgoing premier's visit more important? It is not as if the man is in the position to set any policy going forward, or can initiate any trade deals. It would make more sense if the new political "power" was to visit.

Are you aware that China is currently facing serious internal financial problems? It has a property bubble that it is desperately trying to keep from bursting, tens of millions of unhappy workers demanding better working conditions and increased pay etc. It is also facing serious problems with its supply of clean water and energy.

We all know about the financial problems in the USA in large part because of the relative transparency that attaches to western countries. Unfortunately, the Chinese keep their financial crises and internal conflicts as cloaked and hidden as possible. If you think that China, a country dependent upon exports to the west is firing on all cylinders, you are greatly mistaken. The Chinese have the same problems, if not worse, than in other countries. The key difference is that China has been able to hide the problems and supress dissent so that people like you do not see it.

[geriatrickid]

[

Money on the table; if the Presedent of the United States never came, neather would the Chinese Premier.

What makes you think the USA is offering anything? It's Thailand that has to contend with the Chinese expansionist policies in the region.

If China offers anything, it will only be in respect to helping China support is teetering export industries. China doesn't do anything unless it is of direct benefit to China. Quite different than the west, and particularly the USA which have provided humanitarian aid such as the funding of health care and education. All of the key malaria, nutrition and HIV related projects have been funded by western donors and not China. Chinese naval forces don't visit and dump millions of the dollars into the local economy like the USN. At best, I think you might have the Chinese fishing fleets gill netting and bottom dredging Thai fishing grounds empty and Chinese naval vessels discharging raw sewage.

Edited November 15, 2012 by Scott
Deleted quote edited out

[TomTao]

It seems to me that Thailand may be taking the first steps onto a very slippery tightrope, the government is seeking an agreement with the U.S at the same time as entering an agreement with China, as I understand it both the U.S and China are calling the ties stategic, this could be very good for Thailand and the Thai economy on the one hand, but if Thailand is told to choose one side or the other in the future then this country could find itself in a very precarious situation, because no matter which side Thailand chooses to ally themselves to the other could see the choice as a slap in the face, and that may have a serious effect on thailand's fiscal security.

[Thai at Heart]

It seems to me that Thailand may be taking the first steps onto a very slippery tightrope, the government is seeking an agreement with the U.S at the same time as entering an agreement with China, as I understand it both the U.S and China are calling the ties stategic, this could be very good for Thailand and the Thai economy on the one hand, but if Thailand is told to choose one side or the other in the future then this country could find itself in a very precarious situation, because no matter which side Thailand chooses to ally themselves to the other could see the choice as a slap in the face, and that may have a serious effect on thailand's fiscal security.

Attempting to play both sides is often a sign of extreme arrogance. Let's hope they aren't that stupid.

This isn't a game of chicken. Thailand has a strong relationship with the usa. If they screw that up, they will become a satellite among all others for china, and the US will simply make another friend elsewhere.

[jerrysteve]

Thailand may end up in a PICKLE between the 2, because of its inability to follow thru on almost every issue, and its persistent inability to make

decisions. They do not know whether to POOP or go BLIND. They are Laggers and not Leaders.

Edited November 14, 2012 by jerrysteve

[JurgenG]

Chinese naval forces don't visit and dump millions of the dollars into the local economy like the USN.

It is true that the americans have always been strong supporter of the brothels of South East Asia, some even say they wouldn't even exist without them.

The Chinese on the other hand seem to favor the French, like Hermes and Louis Vuitton. The Chinese have always been connoisseur

[keemapoot]

Money on the table; if the Presedent of the United States never came, neather would the Chinese Premier.

More importantly, Obama will be a tough act to follow. AF-1, Black Hawk Helicopters, dog and pony show, pomp and circumstance., etc., ask the average Thai late next week which leader made the biggest impression on them.