Gen Prawit visits China to strengthen bilateral relations

BANGKOK, September 2 (TNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon left Bangkok for China today for an official visit to discuss bilateral cooperation on security and economic affairs including China's stalled import of Thai rice and rubber. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha assigned Gen Prawit, Deputy Defence Minister/Army Chief Udomdej Sitabutr, Anusit Kunakorn, National Security Council Secretary General, and Armed Dorces Development Command chief Gen Thaweep Netniyom to visit China from Sept 2 to 5. The cabinet on Tuesday approved the appointment of Gen Thaweep as the new NSC secretary general, replacing Mr Anusit who will retire at the end of this month. This visit was made upon the invitation of the Chinese government to strengthen security and economic cooperation. Before his flight, Gen Prawit said that his delegation would meet the prime minister, military leaders and security executives of China. "Besides, I will follow up the previous project of rice trade. We made contacts to coordinate it but the Chinese government has not bought all the lot. Earlier China agreed to buy 2 million tons of rice and 200,000 tons of rubber from Thailand. The Chinese government already signed some contracts. I will also discuss security work concerning the Defence Ministry," Gen Prawit said. (TNA)