Australia, Thailand confer on surrogacy

BANGKOK, August 29 (TNA) - Australian and Thai officials have discussed surrogacy control in Thailand and both sides have shared a similar view that the crux must be solved through humanitarian means and an optimal benefit children born from surrogacy will receive. The visiting Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Vorghese, met and conferred the issue with Thai Deputy Permanent Secretary for Justice Chanchao Chaiyanukit, in his capacity as the acting permanent secretary for justice, in Bangkok on Friday. Chanchao revealed after the over one-hour meeting that he had told the visiting Australian official that Thai authorities are gathering ideas and proposals raised by parties concerned to be submitted to the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) for consideration before the junta promulgates the country's surrogacy law in the near future so that children born from surrogacy must have their rights protected under international standards. Chanchao said he had told the senior Australian official that Thailand would adhere and treat surrogate children like other countries. The visiting Australian authority later told journalists that Canberra prohibits commercial surrogacy; so, about 200 Australians have undertaken surrogacy in Thailand, proposing that Thai authorities solve the problem through legal means. (TNA)