Australian Minister for Defence visits Thailand

BANGKOK, August 23 (TNA) - Australian Minister for Defence Marise Payne is leading her entourage to pay a three-day official visit to Thailand, scheduled for August 22-24, as the guest of the Thai Ministry of Defence. Deputy Government Spokesman Lieutenant General Werachon Sukondhapatipak told a press conference that the visiting Australian minister for defence and her entourage were welcome and held talks with Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha at Bangkok's Government House on August 23, during which both sides discussed issues of mutual interest. The deputy spokesman stated that the visiting Australian minister for defence and the Thai premier stressed on sound and longstanding relations and cooperation in various areas between Canberra and Bangkok over the past 65 years, covering those in diplomatic, trade and economic, as well as military areas. According to the deputy spokesman, both sides pledged on nurturing the sound and longstanding bilateral ties and cooperation between Australia and Thailand based on mutual benefits. Besides, the Thai prime minister expressed his support for the open-sky policy for Australian military aircraft, as well as two-way cooperation on joint patrols, expanding joint military exercises under the existing bilateral mechanisms and exchange programs on security personnel and education. The visiting Australian minister for defence, meanwhile, informed the Thai premier of successful talks earlier in the day between she, herself, and her Thai counterpart General Prawit Wongsuwan (ประวิตร วงศ์สุวรรณ), who is also Thai Deputy Prime Minister overseeing national security, on cooperation with the world community and the ASEAN Community (AC) on anti-terrorism and on the Thai government's stance on "Stronger Together". The deputy spokesman noted that the Thai prime minister agreed on the international security cooperation within the United Nations framework, focusing on the prevention of incidents and dialogues towards permanent and sustainable world peace, rather than intrusion. On the occasion, the Thai prime minister also conveyed his gratefulness to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and his spouse for expressing their sorrow on the passing late last year of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and their scheduled plan to join the royal cremation ceremony of the late and beloved Thai monarch in Bangkok in October 2017. (TNA)