Thai-US panel planned for relation promotion

BANGKOK, Sept 29 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak will propose a joint Thai-American committee to boost bilateral relations. After his meeting with the US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Thursday, Mr Somkid said he would like both countries to have such a joint committee so that they could have direct talks on issues of mutual interest instead of doing so through other indirect forums such as those of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Thailand had such joint committees with China and Japan, he said. “The visit (of the US secretary of commerce) and the trip to the US of the prime minister are good opportunities to plan future cooperation. Thailand is the center of ASEAN, so there should be close cooperation on trade, investment, science, technology and education. We need support from the US, especially on high technology, education and science,” Mr Somkid said. He also said that the US was interested in the production of locomotives and electric vehicles in Thailand. Mr Ross said that the meeting of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and US President Donald Trump next week would be a turning point of bilateral relations. (TNA)