Thai PM to visit Russia May 17-21

BANGKOK, May 16 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha is scheduled to pay a five-day visit to Russia during May 17-21, 2016 to attend the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit and to further boost trade and investment cooperation between Bangkok and Moscow. Hirunya Suchinai, Secretary-General of the Board of Investment of Thailand (BOI), told journalists of the information on Monday. Accompanied by more than 30 prominent Thai business operators, Hirunya said, the prime minister will first chair the Russian-Thai Business Dialogue on May 18, jointly organised by BOI and the Russian business sector in St. Petersburg, in which more than 100 Russian business operators will participate to explore ways for widening trade and investment between Russia and Thailand. Hirunya revealed that the Thai premier will inform Russian business operators of Thailand’s strong potential for international investment, thanks to the Thai Kingdom's central location in the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which is also good to serve as an overseas production base of Russian investors. The BOI chief pointed out that Russia is highly advance in the fields of science and technology and innovation, but Russian investment in Thailand is still not much as most of the Russian investment has been focused on tourism and small-sized firms. The BOI chief expressed her confidence that the Thai premier's upcoming visit to Russia should further boost confidence in the Thai economy among prominent Russian business operators, paving the way for their expanding investment in the Thai Kingdom in the future. According to a press release issued by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister General Prayut will also hold bilateral talks with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in St. Petersburg on May 18 and pay a courtesy call on Russian President Vladimir Putin the following day. Besides, the Russian and the Thai prime ministers will witness the signing of agreements on cooperation between Russia and Thailand in the fields of energy, agriculture, fishery and the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Thai prime minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai will then attend the ASEAN–Russia Commemorative Summit on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN–Russia relations during May 19-20 in Sochi, aimed to explore ways to further enhance the two sides' cooperation in the fields of political-security, economy and socio-cultural aspects for mutual benefits. On the occasion, ASEAN leaders, including the Thai premier, will have a meeting with the Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. In addition, Russia will arrange side events, including a Russia–ASEAN Business Forum, a ASEAN-Russia Cultural Ministers Meeting and a ASEAN-Russia Art and Cultural Festival. During the summit, the Thai foreign minister will also have a bilateral meeting with Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov, who will co-chair the 7th Russia-Thailand Joint Commission Meeting, set to be held later in Thailand. (TNA)