Thailand, Russia connected by long-term friendly relations - Thai prime minister

BANGKOK, April 8. /TASS/. Thailand and Russia are connected by long-term friendly relations, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said in an exclusive interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman dedicated to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s upcoming visit to Bangkok on April 7-8. "I would like to thank the Russian president and prime minister for strengthening relations between our countries. We have had a long-term friendship which is now finding a new way," Chan-o-cha said. "I would ask you to tell the Russian leadership that I personally respect Vladimir Putin very much. He visited us [Thailand] in 2003. He is a very strong man, who is doing sports," the prime minister said. "Several years ago, Her Royal Highness [Queen Sirikit] visited Russia and was very pleased - both by the trip and the development of friendly relations [with Russia]. I was lucky to visit Russia then in the delegation of Her Royal Highness [in July 2007]. Her Royal Highness was very pleased with the reception in Russia. The reception reflected the continuity that has existed in our relations since the times of King Rama V [1868-1910] who visited Russia once. Now, in the epoch of King Rama IX [since 1946], this friendship continues," Chan-o-cha said. Read more