Prayut calls for increased cooperation with Europe
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has called for increased cooperation between Asia and Europe so that their partnership can be expanded and more linkages created.

Speaking during the summit of Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Milan on Thursday, Prayut said that continental links required strong political will, international commitment and expertise.

The prime minister proposed three strategies for cooperation - expansion of the partnership, risk management, and more free-trade agreements.

The two-day Asem, which concluded yesterday, is an informal dialogue and cooperation involving the 28 European Union member states, two other European countries, the European Union, and 21 Asian countries and the Asean Secretariat.

It is the first international conference for General Prayut as prime minister since he took power in the May 22 coup, which toppled an elected government.

He faced a protest by a group of exiled Thai activists, but was welcomed by a separate group of expatriate Thais.

There has been no report of on how leaders from European countries reacted to Prayut's appearance in Milan. The EU strongly criticised the coup and "froze" cooperation in various sectors with Thailand.

Relations between Thailand and EU have normalised somewhat, but the latter stopped negotiations on a free-trade agreement with Thailand and demanded the Kingdom restore democracy soon.

Prayut spent time in bilateral meetings with Asian leaders including Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

He also met Thai officials, Thai business communities in Europe.

The leaders mostly expressed their understanding of Thailand's political developments, and Prayut thanked them for their approval of his military-dominated government.

Prayut urged China to import more farm products, such as rice and rubber, from Thailand.

He asked Japan to join Thailand and invest in the Dawei project in Myanmar while he invited Prime Minister Lee to visit Thailand and told Hun Sen that he would visit Cambodia by the end of this month.

At home, the government's deputy spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd dismissed the protests against Prayut, which was covered by international media organisations and discussed on social media.

He said some protesters displayed racism by wielding an anti-Prayut poster.

PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana believed that exiled academic and activist Junya Yimprasert, who was in Milan, exploited foreigners who had protested by creating a misunderstanding.

However, Junya said her group had engaged with the organiser of the demonstration at the beginning of the protest. The protest was an integral part of a big demonstration in Milan, she said.

It was staged in the context of pro-democracy and a call for justice for Italian photojournalist Fabio Polenghi, who was killed during the bloody red-shirt riots in 2010.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Prayut-calls-for-increased-cooperation-with-Europe-30245737.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-18

"He said some protesters displayed racism by wielding an anti-Prayut poster". This country is so far behind on what the definition of racism is. The pot calling the kettle black.

It seems he only really met Asian leaders who naturally approved of his military backed government.

China, Cambodia and Singapore aren't exactly beacons of freedom and democracy and the Japanese have a different view of what PM Abe said.

Will we ever learn how many EU leaders he met and what was really discussed other than the sanitized Thai version of course ?

Since when did Prayut became a race? Don't they even know the meaning of racism??

It seems he only really met Asian leaders who naturally approved of his military backed government.

China, Cambodia and Singapore aren't exactly beacons of freedom and democracy and the Japanese have a different view of what PM Abe said.

Will we ever learn how many EU leaders he met and what was really discussed other than the sanitized Thai version of course ?

But at the end of the day, thai news would say the trip was a big success & all the farangs love him.

<Quote> The prime minister proposed three strategies for cooperation - expansion of the partnership, risk management, and more free-trade agreements.

This was initiated by Yinluck and she did a great job on that, until she was stopped.

Remember many poster calling her trips to Europe shopping trips, while she was meeting top ministers in order to achieve this tree goals.

So this is part of the reforms ?

Since when did Prayut became a race? Don't they even know the meaning of racism??

I think they talking about the Tour de France...protesting that Thailand wants to steal the venue...

Those Thais protesting against him were referred to as "exiles." Those supporting him were referred to as "expatriates."

more free-trade agreements.

Does that include removing the exorbitant import tax on goods from the EU?

more free-trade agreements.

Does that include removing the exorbitant import tax on goods from the EU?

No.

<Quote> The prime minister proposed three strategies for cooperation - expansion of the partnership, risk management, and more free-trade agreements.

This was initiated by Yinluck and she did a great job on that, until she was stopped.

Remember many poster calling her trips to Europe shopping trips, while she was meeting top ministers in order to achieve this tree goals.

So this is part of the reforms ?

He can and anyone can PROPOSE anything at all. It is what is DONE by any party person or organistion that really counts.

I can propose to give away 1 million US dollars to everyone in the world.

Hollow talk

more free-trade agreements.

Does that include removing the exorbitant import tax on goods from the EU?

AGREED. What is FREE TRADE in Thailand? I think FREE TRADE in Thailand means if you are corrupt enough you get it for FREE. Otherwise impost a duty on everything so it is unbearable expensive

Not sure that Europe wants to play with the pariah!!

The leaders mostly expressed their understanding of Thailand's political developments, and Prayut thanked them for their approval of his military-dominated government.

So which countries approved of this? Please list just one.

There has been no report of on how leaders from European countries reacted to Prayut's appearance in Milan.

'Nuff said

The whole OP is just a load of biased drivel.

I just get their feeling that the General is a bit like Lieutenant Colonel Bill Kilgore; the one who like's the smell of napalm in the morning. Slash and burn.

It’s not as easy to say I want this to happen. Sounds good in the press back home but in the real world can turn you into a extreme despot. The General has not got the art of negotiation down pat by the sounds of it. The other problem outside of Thailand is that he is seen as a dictator, out for what he can get.

He needs to hand over the reins of the country as soon as possible, they probably will never get the constitution right, so whatever they have now use it.

I’d think that “strategies for cooperation” might include No. 1 - returning the government to a democratic elected institution. But maybe that would be a lie.

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<Quote> The prime minister proposed three strategies for cooperation - expansion of the partnership, risk management, and more free-trade agreements.

This was initiated by Yinluck and she did a great job on that, until she was stopped.

Remember many poster calling her trips to Europe shopping trips, while she was meeting top ministers in order to achieve this tree goals.

So this is part of the reforms ?

Gen. Prayut has imitated many of Yingluck's strategies including her "Sufficiency Economy", alternative enegy programs, minimum daily wage, price supports for rice (and now rubber), stimulus spending, etc. The only thing he can't imitate is being an elected demoractic leader.;b++){var>

"imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" - Charles Caleb Colton

But you have to give Gen. Prayut some credit. “Plagiarists, at least, have the merit of preservation” – Benjamin Disraeli

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

<Quote> The prime minister proposed three strategies for cooperation - expansion of the partnership, risk management, and more free-trade agreements.

This was initiated by Yinluck and she did a great job on that, until she was stopped.

Remember many poster calling her trips to Europe shopping trips, while she was meeting top ministers in order to achieve this tree goals.

So this is part of the reforms ?

Gen. Prayut has imitated many of Yingluck's strategies including her "Sufficiency Economy", alternative enegy programs, minimum daily wage, price supports for rice (and now rubber), stimulus spending, etc. The only thing he can't imitate is being an elected demoractic leader.

"imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" - Charles Caleb Colton

But you have to give Gen. Prayut some credit. “Plagiarists, at least, have the merit of preservation” – Benjamin Disraeli

Following your reasoning through almost everyone can be called an "imitator" or "plagiarist". Most of all our previous PM clone.

Anyway, more cooperation with Europe, with people saying the Thai should "copy" some European concepts, like democracy and so.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

<Quote> The prime minister proposed three strategies for cooperation - expansion of the partnership, risk management, and more free-trade agreements.

This was initiated by Yinluck and she did a great job on that, until she was stopped.

Remember many poster calling her trips to Europe shopping trips, while she was meeting top ministers in order to achieve this tree goals.

So this is part of the reforms ?

Gen. Prayut has imitated many of Yingluck's strategies including her "Sufficiency Economy", alternative enegy programs, minimum daily wage, price supports for rice (and now rubber), stimulus spending, etc. The only thing he can't imitate is being an elected demoractic leader.

"imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" - Charles Caleb Colton

But you have to give Gen. Prayut some credit. Plagiarists, at least, have the merit of preservation Benjamin Disraeli

Following your reasoning through almost everyone can be called an "imitator" or "plagiarist". Most of all our previous PM clone.

Anyway, more cooperation with Europe, with people saying the Thai should "copy" some European concepts, like democracy and so.

You drunk again pal?

The leaders mostly expressed their understanding of Thailand's political developments, and Prayut thanked them for their approval of his military-dominated government.

So which countries approved of this? Please list just one.

Im sure everyone understands Thailand's political developments. As for approving of them.........

There has been no report of on how leaders from European countries reacted to Prayut's appearance in Milan.

'Nuff said

Well Cameron was pleased of the opportunity to meet

There has been no report of on how leaders from European countries reacted to Prayut's appearance in Milan.

'Nuff said

Eggactly...it was the non event it was always going to be. Blown up only by a over imaginative hand full of average Thai journalists and TV anti junta wishful thinkers.

Had to laugh that even the "Junta faces protests" pre meeting sensationalism turned out to be a handful of Junya hollow brainers with the biggest protest group of a few hundred not protesting the government being a Junta but at lack of action on the Italtians death in Thaksin's attack on Bangkok.

Gen. Prayuth said in his plea yesterday. “Living abroad is not comfortable at all, unlike living in Thailand.”

looks like 2 days were enough...

Cooperation is a two way street. Lets see how willing Thailand is willing to cooperate with the UK police in the Kho Tao murders.