Thai PM discusses trade cooperation with UAE

NEW YORK, September 26 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has discussed trade cooperation and bilateral relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the sidelines of the 67th United Nations General Assembly in New York, scheduled for September 23-29. Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told TNA that Premier Yingluck and he met the UAE foreign minister on Tuesday, during which the issues were raised. Surapong revealed that the UAE will send its officials to Thailand in the near future to work on further enhancing two-way trade between the Thai and the UAE economies. According to the Thai foreign minister, his UAE counterpart also suggested that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which Thailand is a member country, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in which the UAE is a member state, further boost bilateral relations. On the occasion, the UAE foreign minister invited the Thai prime minister to visit the UAE and the prime minister extended a reciprocal invitation so that both countries reach trade agreements based on their sound bilateral relations. The Thai foreign minister said the UAE also asked Thailand to support its attempts to be the host of the World Expo 2020 if Thailand loses the contest. Thailand is among five countries now competing to be the host of the World Expo 2020. (TNA)