Thai PM receives honorary degree from New Zealand university

AUCKLAND, March 23 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday received an honorary doctorate degree from the Auckland University of Technology for her remarkable role as the first female elected prime minister of Thailand. The degree was conferred to Yingluck, now on an official visit to New Zealand, by John Maasland, rector of Auckland University of Technology, who praised the long standing relations between the two countries, especially in education. The university has cooperated with several Thai universities including Chulalongkorn, Thammasat, Khon Kaen and the National Institute of Development Administration. After receiving the degree, Yingluck said she was honoured to become the first Thai prime minister to receive the degree, making her official visit to New Zealand become significant. The degree should be regarded as success for her in administering the country in more than a year in the past, especially on her attempts to create a genuine democracy system and sustainable growth for Thailand. Yingluck later attended a welcome party, hosted jointly by the university, the Thai embassy and the Thai association in New Zealand. (TNA)