ID :
483833
Thu, 03/08/2018 - 11:58
Auther :

Belgium lauds Thailand's political development

BANGKOK, March 8 (TNA) - Belgium has expressed its appreciation to Thailand's political development and hoped for the country's continual development in people's basic rights and freedom in various areas, which are factors required for renegotiations of a bilateral free trade area (FTA) between the Thai Kingdom and the European Union (EU). Thai Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Busadee Santipitak, who is also Director-General of the ministry's Department of Information, told journalists on Thursday that Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs Didier J.L. Reynders made the remarks while meeting with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai in Brussels earlier this week. The spokeswoman said that the Thai foreign minister stressed on the Thai military government's stance on following its roadmap towards the country's new general election based on the constitutional democracy. According to the spokeswoman, the Thai foreign minister also thanked Belgium for supporting Thailand within the EU framework, leading to a change in some EU policies on the Thai Kingdom and more political contacts between Brussels and Bangkok. The spokeswoman acknowledged the Thai foreign minister expressed his hope that there would be exchanges of visits to the other country by senior officials of Belgium and Thailand on the continual basis in the future. Besides, both sides discussed on potential bilateral and sustainable regional cooperation in many issues, including those on science and technology, innovations, economic, trade and investment, especially new investment in the Thai government-supported Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Project. "Belgium also wants to conclude agreements with Thailand on the extradition of prisoners and social security, while both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues as well, including Thailand's constructive roles through regional cooperation frameworks and connectivity such as the Thai Kingdom's rotatory chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2019 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2022, as well as the situation in neighboring Cambodia and Myanmar's Rakhine State", the spokeswoman stated. (TNA)

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