Thailand to sell rice, rubber to China under G-to-G deals

BANGKOK, November 14 (TNA) - Negotiations at the ministerial level are underway for Thailand to sell two million tonnes of rice and 200,000 tonnes of natural rubber to China under the government-to-government basis. Thai Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya told journalists of the update on Friday, after acccompanying Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha to attend this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and related forums in Beijing earlier this week. General Chatchai said that the sale, based on market prices, will be made with a Chinese state enterprise, Cofco Co., only for the purpose of transparency and the delivery will be made from 2015–2016. General Chatchai stated that representatives of the Chinese state enterprise will travel to Thailand on November 19 to discuss with concerned Thai authorities on ways to invest in the Thai rubber industry, while trade associations of the two countries also plan to discuss on China's expanding investment in Thailand and purchase of Thai products. According to the commerce minister, his ministry also plans to propose to the government-run Rice Policy Committee on resuming the sale of Thai rice from warehouses, with measures introduced to prevent negative impacts on domestic rice prices. (TNA)