Thai army chief to visit Philippines Dec 16-18

BANGKOK, December 14 (TNA) - Thai Army Chief General Prayuth Chan O-cha is scheduled to pay an official visit to the Philippines from December 16-18, as invited by the Philippines' Army, to strengthen military relations between the two neighbouring countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Deputy spokesperson of the Royal Thai Army Colonel Sirichan Nga-thong told journalists today that during his three-day official trip to the Philippines, the Thai army commander-in-chief will make courtesy calls on his Philippine counterpart, the Philippine Supreme Commander and Defence Minister, apart from visiting the Philippines' army special forces. The army deputy spokeswoman acknowledged that the army chief's forthcoming trip to the Philippines not only represents an exchange of visit between top-ranked army officers, but also helps further enhance and promote cooperation between the two ASEAN neighbours in the lead-up to the ASEAN Community or AC, scheduled to be established by 2015. According to the deputy spokeswoman, relations between the Thai and the Philippine militaries have been close and long-time smoothened, seen by exchanges of visits between their military leaders and steady cooperation through joint programs, namely the Cobra Gold annual military exercises and disaster relief operations. (TNA)