US ambassador meets Thai DPM

BANGKOK, December 22 (TNA) - US Ambassador to Thailand Glyn Davies has met Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who oversees economic affairs, to discuss bilateral relations and economic cooperation between Washington and Bangkok. The US top envoy paid a courtesy call on the Thai deputy prime minister at Bangkok's Government House on December 21. After the one-hour meeting, Somkid told journalists that the US ambassador and he, himself, shared understanding on all issues and discussed bilateral trade and investment between the United States and Thailand. Somkid said he hopes Washington and Bangkok will enhance their partnership and he plans to lead Thai business operators to explore investment opportunities in the United States in the near future. Regarding on whether Thailand will join the Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership (TPP), the deputy prime minister revealed that he has ordered commerce ministry officials to discuss the issue, aimed to move forward Thailand's businesses. According to the Thai deputy premier, he thanked the US ambassador for understanding the situation in Thailand. The US top envoy then told reporters that he and the Thai deputy prime minister discussed trade and investment issues, especially scientific cooperation, and he hopes to have more opportunities to work with the Thai government and the Thai deputy prime minister on economic issues. (TNA)