Government launches "Thailand+1" policy

BANGKOK, May 3 (TNA) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has announced the "Thailand+1" policy, under which the Thai Kingdom will enhance bilateral ties and cooperation with oil-rich Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia. Speaking to journalists after the Cabinet's weekly meeting at Bangkok's Government House on May 2, the prime minister said that his government is proceeding with the "Thailand+1" policy after his successful visit to Bahrain recently. The prime minister stressed that his administration's new Thailand+1 policy includes Saudi Arabia in order to fully restore bilateral relations between Riyadh and Bangkok in the future. "I'm pleased that Bahrain has agreed to play a moderator role to help fully restore bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Thailand in the future and I'm considering to assign a deputy prime minister to visit Riyadh soon", the prime minister told reporters. Bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Thailand have been downgraded following a series of scandals concerning a theft of a set of priceless jewelries of the Saudi Arabian Royal Family by a Thai man and the murder of Saudi diplomats in Thailand about three decades ago. The prime minister, meanwhile, proclaimed a success his visit to Bahrain during April 24-26, resulting in a progress in bilateral ties and cooperation between Bahrain and Thailand in trade, investment and tourism. (TNA)