China to buy huge lots of Thai rice, rubber

BANGKOK, September 16 (TNA) - The Ministry of Commerce has announced that China will soon import a large amount of Thai rice and natural rubber. Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan confirmed on Monday that China will buy 1.2 million tonnes of Thai rice with the purchase contract likely to be signed within two weeks. Niwatthamrong told journalists that, in his recent discussion in China's Heilongjiang Province, China's state-run Beidahuang Co. expressed its interest in purchasing the 1.2 million tonnes of rice from theThai government's stocks. According to the deputy prime minister, the Chinese company also expressed its interest in imporing about 200,000 tonnes of Thai natural rubber. The deputy premier acknowledged that, based on initial negotiations, purchase prices of the two major Thai farm products were good, with their trade contracts expected to be soon finalized. (TNA)