Prawit's visit to China has nothing to do with Bangkok bombing: PM

BANGKOK, September 4 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday that Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon's visit to China was to strengthen ties, not to discuss the arrests of Bangkok bombing suspects. The visit from Sept 2 to 5 responded to the invitation of the Chinese government in order to boost bilateral relations and cooperation on security and economic affairs and they were unlikely to discuss the arrests of suspects in the explosion incident at the Ratchaprasong intersection or seek cooperation on issues concerning Uighur people, Gen Prayut said. Some international issues that involved security factors were sensitive, the prime minister said. In his four-day visit to China, Gen Prawit and Thai security authorities were set to meet the Chinese prime minister and a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China. His delegation would also inquire about China's earlier plan to import 2 million tons of rice and 200,000 tons of rubber from Thailand. (TNA)