Thai PM hails successful visit to Singapore

BANGKOK, June 12 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has proclaimed his ongoing official visit to Singapore, set from June 11-12, a success, as relations of the two neighbouring countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been strengthened in all dimensions. Prime Minister General Prayut told TNA of the success on Friday morning, when he remained in Singapore, noting that, among others, Singapore and Thailand have signed four memoranda of understanding (MOUs), including those on a waiver of double taxation and cooperation on marine tourism, industries and digital content, aimed to widen bilateral trade and investment between the two ASEAN neighbouring countries. The Thai prime minister said that Thailand is also ready to open a new shipping route and deep-sea ports at Samui and Phuket Islands in the Thai South, after which his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong and his wife would travel by a yacht to Thailand. Besides, the Thai premier acknowledged, he briefed the Singapore side on Thailand's updated situation with ongoing national reform based on his interim government's roadmap. As Singapore is going to celebrate the 50th anniversary on founding the island state and also diplomatic relations with Thailand, the Thai premier revealed that he is scheduled to represent His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyaduj to join the celebrations in Singapore in August 2015, while Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam is also scheduled to visit Thailand as the guest of His Majesty the King. The Thai prime minister later met Thai athletes participating in the ongoing 28th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), hosted by Singapore, and witnessed the final of sepak takraw between the Myanmar and Thai teams, as well as attended a luncheon with Singapore business operators and visited the Marina Bay Cruise. Accompanied by his entourage, including his wife, the Thai leader is scheduled to return home on Friday evening. (TNA)