Bahrain, Thailand ink cooperation pacts

MANAMA, April 25 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has arrived in Bahrain for a three-day official visit, scheduled for April 24-26, during which three cooperation agreements between Bahrain and Thailand were set to be inked. Accompanied by his entourage, the Thai prime minister was personally welcomed by his Bahraini counterpart Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa upon his arrival at the Bahrain International Airport in Manama on Monday night. The Thai delegation includes Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya and Public Health Minister Dr. Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn. The Thai premier is scheduled to attend an official welcome ceremony at Gudaibiya Palace in Manama on Tuesday morning (local time), as well as to hold bilateral talks with his Bahraini counterpart and a plenary discussion between the Bahraini and the Thai sides. The Bahraini and the Thai leaders are scheduled to also witness the signing of three bilateral cooperation, including the Memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Agriculture Cooperation, the Protocol on the Amendment of the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation between University of Bahrain and Prince of Songkla University in the Thai South. The Bahraini prime minister is scheduled to then host a luncheon reception in honor of the visiting Thai prime minister and his entourage, after that the Thai premier will be granted an audience with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The Thai prime minister will then visit the Al Fateh Grand Mosque, before returning to Thailand. The Thai prime minister and his entourage will arrive in Thailand on Wednesday morning, ending this three-day official trip to the Gulf state, aimed at strengthening ties and cooperation between Manama and Bangkok. (TNA)