Distinguished guests visit Thailand

BANGKOK, February 2 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha meets many distinguished foreign guests in Bangkok this week, including national leaders. Deputy Government Spokesman Major General Werachon Sukondhapatipak told journalists that the prime minister met executives of about 60 leading Japanese companies, led by Chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Akio Mimura on February 1 to listen to the Thai government's policies on trade and investment promotion, while they also expressed intention to increase trade and investment in Thailand, the reaction of which reflected the Japanese private sector's confidence in Thailand's economic stability and status as an economic center in the region. The deputy spokesman said the Thai prime minister is scheduled to meet Sir Simon McDonald, Permanent Undersecretary at the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on February 2 to discuss the UK-Thai cooperation. According to the deputy spokesman, the Thai leader is also scheduled to meet the Indian Vice President Shri M. Hamid Ansari on February 3, representing the first high-level visit to Thailand in six decades by a leading figure of the largest South Asian nation. India considers Thailand as an important country in the ASEAN Community (AC) and wants to implement cooperation projects to benefit from Thailand's strategic location and potential to link India and East Asia. Besides, the Thai prime minister is scheduled to meet South Korean Ambassador in Bangkok Jeon Jae Man on February 4 to listen to the Thai government's policies and administrative directions and to further boost bilateral cooperation between Seoul and Bangkok. (TNA)