Thai, Russian JC meeting resolves to boost bilateral co-op in all areas

RUSSIA, March 29 (TNA) - The 5th Session of the Thai-Russian Joint Commission (JC) was held in Moscow, Russia's capital on Friday, during which delegations of both countries agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation between Bangkok and Moscow in all areas. Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who is paying an official visit to Russia from March 27-29, told journalists of the agreements after the meeting, co-chaired by he himself and Russian Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov, acknowledging that both sides also exchanged views on bilateral relations and cooperation in several dimensions. Surapong said that the Thai and Russian delegations also emphasized on lifting bilateral relations between Bangkok and Moscow to the strategic partnership status and on boosting mutual trade value from 5 billion US dollars in 2012 to 10 billion US dollars by 2016, and that both sides also realized their key roles as regional gateways to each other. According to the Thai Deputy Premier, Russia was also invited to join in Thailand's new investment projects on transport connectivity in the region, in the lead-up to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), set to be formed by 2015, which will also become a large market for Russian goods and services. The Thai Deputy Prime Minister revealed that Friday's Thai-Russian JC meeting also agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the farm sector in order to boost each other's exports and imports of agricultural products, mostly through the private sector, and to ensure food security of both allied nations, as well as on technical aspects, covering those concerning science and information technology or IT and cultures, to promote each other's transfer of knowledge and expertise and increased public contacts between both countries. (TNA)