The State Visit of His Excellency the President of the French Republic and Madame Bernedette Chirac

At the invitation of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand, His Excellency Mr. Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic, and Madame Beredette Chirac will pay a State Visit to Thailand from 17th to 19th February, 2006

The visit will mark the first State Visit of the President of the French Republic to Thailand since the establishment of Thailand-France diplomatic relations in 1856 and will strengthen the existing friendly relations between the two countries and people.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 10 Febuary 2006

Coming on business visit to promote Giat Industries for the recently announced military budgets.

Armour piercing bullets for chickens??

Why do you need to denigrate anything about France on this forum. It's not fair and stupid. IMHO

It's boring and unfair.

Should this be in the joke section????

the russians are after chickens the germans are after chickens, i guess chirac wants a piece of the action.

but what can the french offer??

the russians are after chickens the germans are after chickens, i guess chirac wants a piece of the action.

but what can the french offer??

Offer to surrender to the chickens?

the russians are after chickens the germans are after chickens, i guess chirac wants a piece of the action.

but what can the french offer??

Offer to surrender to the chickens?

the french surrender. ooh la la

i weel saay sis onleey wonce, you naughty naughty boy, you want zse feazer duster treatment

the russians are after chickens the germans are after chickens, i guess chirac wants a piece of the action.

but what can the french offer??

Weapons, fighter-planes, french cheese, champagne and maybe a new project...TGV-train? Bangkok-Chiangmai

LaoPo

the russians are after chickens the germans are after chickens, i guess chirac wants a piece of the action.

but what can the french offer??

Weapons, fighter-planes, french cheese, champagne and maybe a new project...TGV-train? Bangkok-Chiangmai

LaoPo

is that going to be built along side the proposed fast train link between bkk and korat

ps

i think that one has been on the cards for at least five years

His Majesty the King welcomes French President Chirac as the Royal Guest

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej has welcomed the visiting Royal Guest, the President of the French Republic, at Bangkok's Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The President of the French Republic, H E Mr Jacques Chirac, and his spouse Madame Bernadette Chirac, arrived in the Thai Kingdom yesterday afternoon. Mr Chirac was welcomed by His Majesty the King and the guard of honour. He was also welcomed by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the group of Thai government's senior officials.

At 1540 hrs, His Majesty King Bhumibol and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit graciously presented the visiting Royal Guest with the Key to the City at Maha Jedsada Bodin (มหาเจษฎาบดินทร์) Pavilion.

Concerning the State Visit, French President Jacques Chirac is the first foreign Head of State to visit the Thai Kingdom on the auspicious occasion of the Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne.

Thailand and France have long been in close diplomatic relationship for more than 3 centuries.

During the State Visit, the French Government will strengthen its bilateral ties with Thailand notably on economy and biltateral trade.

The French leader couple will be staying in Thailand for 2 days before continuing his tour to the Republic of India on Sunday February the 19th.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 18 Febuary 2006

French leader’s historic visit

Jacques Chirac travels to the Kingdom amid strengthened ties between our two nations

The state visit to the Kingdom by President Jacques Chirac, the first by a French head of state, at the invitation of Their Majesties the King and Queen represents an important landmark in relations, which go back 321 years. They have come a long way since the first encounter between Siam of the Ayudhaya era and France, one of Europe’s greatest colonial powers, and the subsequent tumultuous relations that lasted well into the 20th century. The symbolic importance of President Chirac’s visit will not be lost on the peoples of both countries. They have since built an all-round relationship that encompasses political, economic, social and cultural cooperation and partnerships. Today, Thailand and France share democratic values and have reached a point where they can both enjoy the fruits of their centuries-old ties in a mutually beneficial manner in a spirit of friendship and solidarity.

The blossoming of bilateral ties was a long time in coming. During the Cold War, cooperation and friendship between the two were somewhat limited by Thailand’s close alignment with the US-led free-world struggle for the containment of communism in Asia. France at the time was preoccupied with the Cold War in Europe against the Soviet bloc, striking out on its own diplomatically as a major power in its own right, apart from the blocs headed by the US and the then-USSR.

In the decades following World War II, France’s foreign policy in Southeast Asia focused on its former colonies in Indochina. Thailand, which had managed to escape colonisation through the diplomatic skill of its rulers, never featured very prominently on France’s diplomatic radar screen. But that all changed with the fall of the Berlin Wall, which ended the Cold War and brought about peace and stability in Europe, as well as Thailand’s rapid economic and social development in the 1980s and early 1990s. Both countries have since rediscovered each another as important trade and development partners.

Europe’s regional integration of the 35-member EU, coupled with that continent’s more pronounced role in global affairs, has also more or less coincided with a parallel development among Asean members. The fostering of close relations between the two regional groupings has reinforced bilateral ties and vice versa.

The latest available statistics show that bilateral trade amounts to just under US$3 billion (Bt118 billion) per year, and officials of both countries say there is still much room for expansion.

Thai exports include garments, jewellery, air-conditioners and parts, canned food, seafood, computers and tropical fruits, while imports from France include machinery, aircraft, steel, chemicals and pharmaceutical products. France is Thailand’s second-biggest European trading partner and one of the biggest European investors in Thailand, with total investment of more than $520 million.

Testifying to the strong economic ties between the two countries and keen interest in investment opportunities by French companies is the fact that Chirac’s entourage includes a big delegation of business people. Thailand’s plan to implement infrastructure mega-projects, particularly public-transport systems worth hundreds of billions of baht, is a main attraction for would-be French investors and contractors.

International cooperation will feature prominently on the agenda. Chirac, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and their respective official delegations will discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including how to pressure Burma’s dictatorial regime to implement political reforms.

The two leaders are expected to reaffirm their commitment to the joint Franco-Thai action plan signed in 2004, which serves as a foundation for both countries to expand and deepen relations and explore new areas. The main thrust of this framework is to increase bilateral trade and investment and improve market access in both directions, as well as exchange technical and scientific know-how and strengthen political and defence cooperation.

It has taken centuries for both countries to come around, but Chirac’s state visit confirms what the Thai and the French people have known for some time. They can build friendly relations, profitable economic cooperation and a partnership in development based on long pre-existing ties that had been put on the back burner for too long.

Source: The Nation - Sat, February 18, 2006

HM The King looks marvellous (for his age); unbelievable! He will be 80 this year, right?

LaoPo

President Chirac's Official Visit to Thailand Has Contributed to Greater Cooperation between the Two Countries

President Jacques Chirac of the French Republic and Madame Bernedette Chirac have concluded their first official visit to Thailand with promises to encourage French investment in this country and cultural exchanges.

The couple left Thailand yesterday and were seen off at the Royal Thai Air Force tarmac by Their Majesties the King and Queen. Their State Visit lasted for three days for which they had expressed gratitude for the hospitality of the Thai people.

Speaking to the press conference at the Oriental Hotel on Saturday (Feb 18), President Chirac stated that he viewed Thailand as important partner and ally in Asia. He said France would step up cooperation with Thailand in economic, social and political fields. He had already mentioned the cooperation during his meeting with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the Thai Cabinet earlier in the day. He reiterated that the current situation in Thailand did not affect the French investment in this country.

President Chirac said that France has great interest in the Thai government’s mega-projects and he will encourage more small and medium French companies to invest in Thailand, in order to increase potentials of the Thai economy and to expand job opportunities for Thai workers.

President Chirac also mentioned that cultural exchanges between the two countries will be promoted. Towards that goal, France will increase the number of scholarships for Thai students to study in France. The President also showed his gratitude to the Thai people for their assistance to the French tourists at the time of the tsunami strikes. He commended the Thai government for its progress in establishing the early warning system which has helped restore foreigners’ confidence in visiting the southern coast.

As for the question of the French support for a new UN Secretary General, President Chirac said France has confidence in the capability of the Thai candidate, Mr. Surakiart Sathirathai; however, as a member of G-8, France has to remain neutral and is unable to indicate a clear stance on the issue. He stated that the French position is understandable to Prime Minister Thaksin.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 20 Febuary 2006