Thailand, US proceed with economic partnership talks

BANGKOK, July 28 (TNA) -- The deputy prime minister supervising economic affairs discussed economic partnerships with the American ambassador. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak’s discussion with Ambassador Glyn Davies followed the meetings of working groups from both countries on economic and security cooperation. During the meeting at the Government House, Mr Somkid and Mr Davies worked out preliminary terms for economic cooperation and they would be proposed to a future meeting of Thai and American leaders. Mr Somkid said that Thailand valued both the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) but still had questions on TPP’s support for the poor. In his meeting with the American ambassador, Mr Somkid invited the United States to invest in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). He also said that there was good atmosphere in the discussion as the US acknowledged Thailand’s progressing solutions to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Mr Davies said the US wanted solutions to pirate products so that both countries could strengthen their ties. He added that the schedule of the Thai prime minister’s visit to the US had yet to be announced. (TNA)