Thai PM meets Cambodian, Singapore counterparts on sidelines of 10th ASEM

MILAN, ITALY, October 17 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has held bilateral talks with his Cambodian and Singapore counterparts on the sidelines of the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting, held in Milan, Italy, from October 15-18. On October 16, General Prayut first met with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen, during which the Thai premier promised to take best care of Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand. Both Cambodian and Thai leaders also agreed not to let the two countries’ border problems to obstruct bilateral trade and investment. The Thai leader also proposed that the two neighbouring countries cooperate in maritime energy and set up a special economic zone in a Thai border area opposite Cambodia's Poi Pet border town, where facilities will be in good place for Cambodian nationals to work near their home country. Besides, the Thai premier proposed that Phnom Penh set up a similar special economic zone in a Cambodian border area where Cambodian and Thai nationals can also work. Hun Sen, meanwhile, reportedly agreed with the Thai leader's proposals, urging that both sides further discuss the proposals in details during the Thai prime minister's upcoming visit to Cambodia, scheduled for October 30–31. The Thai premier later conferred with his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, during which he briefed Thailand's updated situation and called on more Singapore investment in Thailand, especially in processing of Thai food and key agricultural products. The Thai prime minister also sought more cooperation from Singapore in further developing basic infrastructure in the transport sectors of the two neighbouring countries, while also persuading Singapore to jointly invest in connectivity development projects between Thailand and neighbouring countries to create and widen intra-regional networks in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand and other seven neighbouring countries are members. In response, the Singapore leader proposed that the Thai government speed up boosting confidence among international investors and tourists and invited the Thai premier to visit Singapore to create confidence in the Thai economy among business operators in the island state. The Thai prime minister accepted the invitation and, in turn, invited his Singapore counterpart to visit Thailand, with their trips to be later scheduled and announced. (TNA)