PM Prayut scheduled to visit Russia in May to promote trade ties

webfact · February 29, 2016

PM scheduled to visit Russia in May to promote trade ties

BANGKOK, 29 February 2016 (NNT) - Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is scheduled to travel to Russia in May on an official visit to promote trade and investment.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan recently returned from his diplomatic trip to Russia and Belarus. On his visit, he met with his Russian counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of defense industry Dimitri Rogozin, to discuss security and military cooperation.

Both sides agreed to set up an anti-transnational crime committee. Defense Minister Gen Prawit also sought the preliminary establishment of trade and investment ties with Russia. These topics will be further explored during Gen Prayut's visit to Russia in May.

The Thai Deputy Premier later traveled to the Belarus to discuss issues concerning security, economy and defense technology with President Alexander Lukashenko. Gen Prawit also invited the Belarusian President to pay Thailand an official visit.

-- NNT 2016-02-29

Mango Bob · February 29, 2016

You could always ask Russia to conduct the next Cobra Gold exercise so you can get acquired with their weapon systems.

ratcatcher · February 29, 2016

I hope P.M. Prayut makes his visit to Moscow on May 9th where he will hopefully be able to witness the 71st anniversary Victory parade of Russian military might. Perhaps the Chinese will also be there again to keep him company with his entourage.

He will see military hardware and troops to give him many happy dreams.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32668511

Hawk · February 29, 2016

This government is ruining the country, how can buying tanks, guns and defence technology help the ailing economy? Thailand has lost every military fight it got into, the Lao beat Thailand, the Burmese beat them as did the Cambodians.

NongKhaiKid · February 29, 2016

Mr. Putin will you please be my friend as I've lost a few and have a feeling there could be more ?

MZurf · February 29, 2016

Let's see now. Since taking power the junta have improved relations with the following impressive list of countries:

China

North Korea

Russia

Belarus

Iran

This must make you junta supporters so proud!!

Prbkk · February 29, 2016

He can offer some unused GT2000s as a downpayment

Roomuck · February 29, 2016

Let's see now. Since taking power the junta have improved relations with the following impressive list of countries:

China

North Korea

Russia

Belarus

Iran

This must make you junta supporters so proud!!

r

Well, I am not paticulary a junta supporter. But considering China is providing millions of tourists and Thailand does a lot of trade with China, and they are pretty much neighbors and have the biggest population, I think improving relations with them is probably a smart thing.

Russia also provides the same but in smaller numbers. Trump also wants to jump on the Putin bandwagon.

What is wrong with improving relations? Better than souring relations IMO.

EricBerg · February 29, 2016

Promoting trade and investment would mean Thailand would be buying as Russian economy is going down the drain further and further.

Anyway, Thailand is chosing the non-western road for improving things. Good luck with that.

wabothai · February 29, 2016

The man has discovered that there is life outside Thailand.

Edited February 29, 2016 by wabothai

Mot Dang · February 29, 2016

Let's see now. Since taking power the junta have improved relations with the following impressive list of countries:

China

North Korea

Russia

Belarus

Iran

This must make you junta supporters so proud!!

This is a scary road he is going down. Here's a catchy phrase for TAT, "Come to Thailand and see the Evil Empire's newest recruit, witness the May Day parade where the Democracy Monument stood, and all the Khun Comrades and their new buddies". By invitation only, none of the old allies and partners need attend.

connda · February 29, 2016

TPP: Corporations and Western governments win. It's called fascism. Everyone else is a wealth resource to be harvested. Western hegemony: works until it doesn't.

Russia/China/BRICS/ASEAN: Win/win economic development in the initial stages of growth. Works for a few decades until someone gets greedy, akin to present day Western corporations and their government global police they control. After a 100 or so years, the banana republics of North America and Europe develop win/win economic development policies to counter the hegemonic activities of the Near, Far, and Middle Eastern fascist consortiums.

Rinse and repeat ad infinitum. Human greed: Pathetic.

Edited February 29, 2016 by connda

Baerboxer · February 29, 2016

This government is ruining the country, how can buying tanks, guns and defence technology help the ailing economy? Thailand has lost every military fight it got into, the Lao beat Thailand, the Burmese beat them as did the Cambodians.

Do you really think giving the previous gang access to a ThB 2 Trillion off budget out of parliamentary scrutiny loan would have helped the economy either?

Notice it says to promote trade, not buy weapons. But hey, ignore the facts when it suits.

Edited February 29, 2016 by Baerboxer

Baerboxer · February 29, 2016

Let's see now. Since taking power the junta have improved relations with the following impressive list of countries:

China

North Korea

Russia

Belarus

Iran

This must make you junta supporters so proud!!

Where is the growth in tourists coming from - Russia and China.

You'll remember that American, British, German, Italian, French, Japanese and other trade departments, businessmen, educationalists and entrepreneurs have all been visitors during the current governments tenure?

Beats improving relations with Montenegro, presumably because your criminal brother happens to have bought citizenship there; or Cambodia where the dictator in charge is your brother's eternal friend.

It must really irritate you Shin lovers that countries carry on business as normal and not one, not one single country, has boycotted Thailand or publicly supported the Shins.

phoenixdoglover · February 29, 2016

Let's see now. Since taking power the junta have improved relations with the following impressive list of countries:

China

North Korea

Russia

Belarus

Iran

This must make you junta supporters so proud!!

Where is the growth in tourists coming from - Russia and China.

You'll remember that American, British, German, Italian, French, Japanese and other trade departments, businessmen, educationalists and entrepreneurs have all been visitors during the current governments tenure?

Beats improving relations with Montenegro, presumably because your criminal brother happens to have bought citizenship there; or Cambodia where the dictator in charge is your brother's eternal friend.

It must really irritate you Shin lovers that countries carry on business as normal and not one, not one single country, has boycotted Thailand or publicly supported the Shins.

You are the only one mentioning "the Shins" and you are having a straw man argument with yourself.

The cooling of relations between western democracies and Thailand is well documented, as is the threat of sanctions in several areas. There is no credible argument this is good for Thailand.

Squeegee · February 29, 2016

This government is ruining the country, how can buying tanks, guns and defence technology help the ailing economy? Thailand has lost every military fight it got into, the Lao beat Thailand, the Burmese beat them as did the Cambodians.

The Vietnamese beat them too, twice over:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese-Vietnamese_War_(1831–34)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siamese-Vietnamese_War_(1841–45)

Though the Thais would like to think that even they can beat the French:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Monument_(Thailand)

But with Victory Monument, as usual the Thais were mostly deluded:

"In fact the fighting between the Thais and the French in December 1940 and January 1941 had been brief and inconclusive."

Given that "Thailand's gains were less than it hoped for, although more than the French wished to concede," perhaps they should have called it:

More Than The French Wished To Concede Monument

So off to Russia with him, there's much to learn about attacking one's neighbours and of course, the falang(set)... unless it's 5 to 1 in numbers outside a go-go bar.

Edited February 29, 2016 by Squeegee

BestBitterPhuket · March 1, 2016

The Thai army fought hard for decades to keep communism and China and Russia's influences at bay. Today's coup leaders are, in a short two years, rapidly making Thailand dependent on China and Russia, who will both slowly increase their influence and control.

It's tragic that they are wasting Thailand's future. Allying with Russia, a country with a dark past and equally dark present and future. Forming economical alliances with Russia, a country almost bankrupt, and buying their weapon systems, which are wastly inferior to those of the west. China is not a better bed mate. They will slowly suck out every drop of blood from Thailand and make sure Thailand's economy is COMPLETELY dependent on China. I really wonder what the rationale and "logics" behind Thailand's recent foreign policies are. One thing is for sure, Thailand is on its way to the bottom of the ASEAN in every way. The process has started years ago.

MZurf · March 1, 2016

Let's see now. Since taking power the junta have improved relations with the following impressive list of countries:

China

North Korea

Russia

Belarus

Iran

This must make you junta supporters so proud!!

Where is the growth in tourists coming from - Russia and China.

You'll remember that American, British, German, Italian, French, Japanese and other trade departments, businessmen, educationalists and entrepreneurs have all been visitors during the current governments tenure?

Beats improving relations with Montenegro, presumably because your criminal brother happens to have bought citizenship there; or Cambodia where the dictator in charge is your brother's eternal friend.

It must really irritate you Shin lovers that countries carry on business as normal and not one, not one single country, has boycotted Thailand or publicly supported the Shins.

What about the junta cozying up to some of the most repressive regimes in the world?