ID :
296356
Tue, 08/20/2013 - 10:48
Auther :

Thailand, Tajikistan to expand bilateral cooperation

BANGKOK, August 20 (TNA) - Thailand and Tajikistan have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation on trade and investment and to have Thailand become Tajikistan's gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Tajikistan become Thailand’s gateway to Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Middle East. The agreement was reached during bilateral talks between Tajikistani President Emomalii Rahmon and visiting Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Tajikistani Presidential Office in Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital, on Monday (local time), after the Thai leader was officially received by the Tajikistani President but before the Thai and the Tajikistani governments held a full-panel discussion. It is the first official trip to Tajikistan and Central Asia by a Thai prime minister. During the discussion, both the Tajikistani and the Thai leaders also agreed to further develop bilateral relations and cooperation on other economic issues and to support connectivity between people of both countries. Besides, the Thai Premier welcomed a plan of Tajikistan's Somon Air to launch direct flights between Dushanbe and Bangkok in the foreseeable future, as the new aviation service is viewed to support sustainable economic growth in the 10-member ASEAN bloc and Central Asia. Premier Yingluck also confirmed that Thailand will support Tajikistan's plan to establish the Early Warning Center Coordination Network of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and agreed that the ACD should also look into water security. The visiting Thai Prime Minister praised Tajikistan’s opinions on regional development programs the ACD will consider in its second meeting in Thailand in 2015. In addition, Thailand and Tajikistan agreed on the continual exchange of high-level visits and close contacts, while both countries are also satisfied with the development of bilateral relations. After their discussion, the Tajikistani President and the Thai Prime Minister presided over the signing of a bilateral agreement on visa exemption for people holding diplomatic and official passports of both countries. (TNA)

X