Thailand, Sweden to expand mutual trade, investment

STOCKHOLM, March 5 (TNA) - Thailand and Sweden have appreciated bilateral relations, which have lasted as long as 145 years so far, and agreed to expand bilateral cooperation on economy, investment, medicine and tourism. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is paying an official visit to Sweden from March 4-5, and her Swedish counterpart Fredrik Reinfeldt expressed the appreciation to the long-time sound bilateral relations between Bangkok and Stockholm at a joint press conference in Stockholm on Monday (Sweden's time) after their meeting. The Thai and Swedish leaders then witnessed the signing of a law enforcement cooperation agreement against crimes, human trafficking and terrorism and a second Thai-Swedish joint action plan. On the occasion, Premier Yingluck promoted confidence in Thailand by insisting on the Kingdom's political stability and strong economic growth currently and mentioned growing domestic consumption and substantial investment projects, including those in the private sector. Both the Thai and Swedish Prime ministers also promised to further support their countries' private sectors in expanding investment in both countries and to promote the exchange of knowledge on sciences, technologies, innovations and energy as well. As about 350,000 Swedes have visited Thailand annually, Premier Yingluck said Thailand is also ready to be a destination for medical tourism of Swedes. On the same day, the visiting Thai Prime Minister met Swedish Parliament President Per Westerberg to discuss cooperation between Thai and Swedish parliaments, before attending a fair, at which Swedish Trade Minister Ewa Bjorling was also present, to promote investment in Thailand and Sweden and to present the strong Thai economy and the Thai Kingdom's readiness to be a central link between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which Thailand is a member state, and other regions. (TNA)