MFA confirms Chinese Premier's visit to Thailand Oct 11-13

BANGKOK, October 7 (TNA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will pay an official visit to Thailand from October 11-13, 2013 as the guest of the Thai government. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its website that the upcoming visit to Thailand by the new Chinese Premier will be his first trip to the Thai Kingdom, after assuming his position in March 2013. During his stay in Thailand, Li will meet with his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra to discuss ways to enhance the Thailand–China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership by strengthening close cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. As Thailand is the current country coordinator for ASEAN-China relations, Beijing and Bangkok are expected to also discuss ways to further promote the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership, as the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc and Beijing are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year, following the upcoming ASEAN-China Summit 2013 in Brunei Darussalam. According to the official website, several bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs) will also be signed during the Chinese Premier's visit to Thailand, covering areas of investment, infrastructure cooperation, science and technology, energy, marine cooperation, education and culture. Apart from his official activities in Bangkok, the Chinese Premier will also travel to Chiang Mai Province in the Thai North to observe the province's community-based products under the Thai government-supported one tambon, one product (OTOP) project. (TNA)