Philippines, Thailand ink cooperation pacts

BANGKOK, March 22 (TNA) - Visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha have witnessed the signing of three cooperation agreements between Manila and Bangkok. The three agreements, inked at Bangkok's Government House by Philippine and Thai authorities concerned on March 21, include those on bilateral cooperation in science and technology, in the implementation of joint tourism programs 2017-2022 and in joint actions of a specific area on the raising of water and dairy buffaloes. The Philippine and the Thai governments also extended a three-year bilateral rice trade pact (2016-2018) to support food security in the Philippines. Besides, both Manila and Bangkok agreed on backing the increasing roles of the Philippines-Thailand Joint Trade Commission and the private sector of both ASEAN member countries to boost bilateral trade and investment, as well as to restore the Thailand - Philippines Business Council. Regarding the situation in the South China Sea, both Manila and Bangkok agreed on maintaining peace, stability and security in all forms in the area for mutual benefits of all concerned parties. The Philippine president said he would campaign among concerned parties for joint cooperation on peaceful solution in the South China Sea in accordance with the Code of Conduct (COC) 2002. The Thai prime minister told journalists, after his meeting and co-witnessing the cooperation pacts with the visiting Philippine president, that the Philippine president expressed his profound condolences on the passing of late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and extended his delightful congratuations on the succession to the throne of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun. The Thai prime minister later hosted a dinner reception to welcome the visiting Philippine and his entourage, during which both the Philippine and the Thai leaders exchanged best wishes for their birthday anniversaries, on March 21 for the Thai premier and on March 28 for the Philippine president. Accompanied by his entourage, President Duterte is paying a three-day official visit to Thailand, scheduled for March 20-22, as the invitation of the Thai government, marking the 68th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Thailand and his first trip to the Thai Kingdom after he took office last year. (TNA)