Monday, September 12, 2011

PM left for Indonesia Monday


Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday departed for Indonesia on a one-day official visit — the first as the premier - to boost relations between the two countries.

The premier left Bangkok at 5.45am to the current chair of the Asean grouping.
She was received on arrival by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in an official welcoming ceremony. Both leaders were to hold discussions on bilateral cooperation.
Their talks would cover various aspects of cooperation including politics, security, the economy, social concerns and culture, as well as future cooperation as strategic partners.

Yingluck's familiarisation visit will strengthen the already good bilateral ties and they will take this opportunity to follow up and explore mutual interests in collaboration.

The premier will also thank Indonesia for coordinating and supporting the process to find a peaceful solution to the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, and for being an Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member country, which has supported and helped improve international understanding on the resolution of violence in Thailand's three southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.

President Yudhoyono hosted a luncheon to honour Yingluck before the premier returned to Thailand. Her return to Bangkok is scheduled at 6pm.

Thailand established diplomatic ties with Indonesia in 1950 and celebrated the 60th anniversary of relations in 2010.

Yingluck began her whirlwind tour of four Asean countries on Saturday with a trip to Brunei where she had an audience with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and held bilateral discussions.

During the audience and discussion, they exchanged opinions on Thai-Brunei relations and bilateral cooperation. Both agreed that their countries had the potential to cooperate in various areas, especially agriculture, halal Muslim food industries, energy and labour. The premier is scheduled to visit Cambodia on Thursday and Laos on Friday.

No comments: