PM meets Russian President

SOCHI, Russia, May 20 (TNA) -- Visiting Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to increase trade between Thailand and Russia five folds by 2020 while the latter is pleased to participate in the Bangkok government’s massive investment to improve basic infrastructures, especially in modernising the train system, said a Thai deputy government spokesman. Maj Gen Weerachon Sukondhapatipak, the deputy government spokesman said the two leaders held talks Friday in the Russian resort town of Sochi on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit. Both sides hailed warm diplomatic relations as the two nations will celebrate 120th anniversary next year while Mr Putin agreed to Gen Prayut’s proposal to increase bilateral trade by five times to about 10 billion US dollars in 2020, said the deputy spokesman. Also, Mr Putin said his country is prepared to participate in the current massive investment to improve basic infrastructures by Thai government. According to the deputy spokesman, Gen Prayut told Mr Putin that the Thai government realised the importance of arranging a free trade agreement between the two countries while Mr Putin said Russia is ready to play a larger role in East Asia and the Southeast Asia regions. On security cooperation, both sides agreed to cooperate on military affairs to increase Thailand’s potential in defending the country. Gen Prayut also supported Russia in its bid against terrorism and transnational crime, said the deputy spokesman. Gen Prayut also thanked Russia for its support of ASEAN Community while he pledged to cooperate more with the Moscow government in the fields of energy, science and technology, natural disaster, agriculture and transportation. (TNA)