Timor Leste's PM to visit Thailand

BANGKOK, April 19 (TNA) - Timor Leste's Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao is scheduled to pay a five-day official visit to Thailand from April 25-29, 2013, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries, particularly in social and economic spheres, as well as investment and tourism. Accompanied by several Cabinet members, including Finance, Education, Tourism and ASEAN Affairs Ministers, Gusmao, who was elected as Timore Leste's Prime Minister for the second time on August 8, 2012, will be in Thailand for the first time, as part of his visits to members countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Timor-Leste has applied to become a new member. The Thai government will organise a ceremony to officially welcome Prime Minister Gusmao, who is also Timore Leste's Minister of Defence and Security, at Bangkok's Government House on April 26, when he will later hold bilateral talks with his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra, who will then host him a dinner reception in the same day. During his stay in Thailand, the Timorese Prime Minister will also attend the 69th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) on April 29. Last year, Thailand and Timore Leste celebrated their 10th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. (TNA)