Thailand, Indonesia agree on resolving fishery problem

BANGKOK, Feb 13 (TNA) -- Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai has agreed to resolve fishery problem with Indonesia in long-term and to also promote trade and investment as well as joint suppressing transnational crimes. The agreement was made during a two-day official visit to Indonesia, ended Thursday. During the visit, Mr Don held talks with his Indonesian counterpart Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi in which he reiterated an invitation extended by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha for the Indonesian President Joko Widodo to visit Thailand officially and also invited her to attend ASEAN-Europe ministerial meeting in Thailand between this October and November. Both foreign ministers agreed on promoting bilateral trade, investment and tourism. They also agreed on strengthening cooperation on suppressing transnational crime, terrorism, drug, human trafficking, wildlife smuggling and to cooperate more on international platforms, especially on ASEAN activities. Mr Don also held talks with Le Luong Minh, secretary-general of ASEAN. They hailed the official implementation of ASEAN Community (AC) and the upcoming celebration of 50th anniversary of ASEAN establishment in 2017. They agreed on measures aimed at strengthening ASEAN and to also enable peoples of the grouping to be the centre of the AC. Fishery issues were raised during his talks with Indonesia’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti. They pledged to cooperate on fight against illegal fishing. Mr Don also proposed short and long-term measures to solve the problem. In short-term, high-ranking Indonesian officials will hold a meeting in Thailand while in long-term a joint investment in fishing industry in Indonesia will be made. Mr Don also thanked the Jakarta government in rescuing and sending more than 1,800 Thai fishermen back to Thailand. Indonesia and Thailand celebrate the 66th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. (TNA)