Thai PM welcomes visiting Bhutanese counterpart

BANGKOK, November 14 (TNA) - Visiting Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay was officially welcomed and received by his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra at Bangkok's Government House on Thursday, when Bhutan and Thailand also celebrate the 24th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The Bhutanese Prime Minister, who is paying an official visit to Thailand from November 13-16, was accompanied by Premier Yingluck, who is also Thai Defence Minister concurrently, in inspecting the guards of honor at the Government House. The Bhutanese Prime Minister later signed his name in a guestbook and exchanged souvenirs with his Thai counterpart. Both Bhutanese and Thai leaders then had a full-panel discussion and witnessed the signing of an agreement between Bhutan and Thailand on bilateral trade and economic affairs cooperation by the Thai and Bhutanese Commerce Ministers. The Bhutanese Prime Minister and his entourage then attended a luncheon reception hosted by his Thai counterpart. Earlier in the day, the visiting Bhutanese Prime Minister laid a wreath at the National Memorial in Don Mueang area in the Thai capital, where the ashes and names of Thai soldiers, police and civilians killed in past wars, including World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and battles against insurgents, are honorably kept. The Bhutanese leader also saw exhibitions on the sacrifices of the Thai war veterans and past threats against Thailand's security, religious and royal institutions. The Bhutanese leader's ongoing stay in Thailand is the first official visit to the Kingdom by a Bhutanese prime minister after both countries established their diplomatic relations on November 14, 1989. (TNA)