Turkmenistan's President visits Thailand Nov 30-Dec 2

BANGKOK, November 25 (TNA) - Turkmenistan's President Dr. Gurbanguly M. Berdimuhamedov is scheduled to pay an official visit to Thailand from November 30-December 2, 2013, as earlier invited by Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. According to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his three-day stay in the Kingdom as the guest of the Thai government, the Turkmen President will hold talks with Premier Yingluck on bilateral relations and the two leaders will then witness the signing of a total of six agreements and memoranda of understanding (MOUs), including those on bilateral cooperation in energy, technical, tourism and sports programs, as well as those between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both countries and on mutual visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders. Dr. Berdimuhamedow will be the first-ever Turkmen President to pay an official visit to Thailand since both countries established their diplomatic relations in 1992. Thailand and the allied Central Asian nation celebrated the 20th anniversary of their sound diplomatic relations last year. The forthcoming trip of the Turkmen top leader is believed to open a new door for expanding bilateral ties and cooperation for further social and economic development of both Thailand and Turkmenistan, through agreed direct flights, covering mutual trade, investment and tourism. (TNA)