Thailand to become EEU member

BANGKOK, May 21 (TNA) -- Thailand will become a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and concerned officials will take about one year to study advantages of becoming its member, said Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha on Saturday. Gen Prayut told journalists after returning home from a visit to Russia that he was satisfied with the visit as bilateral cooperation between Russia and Thailand would follow and that the kingdom would join the EEU as it could widen trade and investment with its member states. Presently, Singapore and Indonesia, two fellow countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have already joined the EEU, he said, adding that Thailand would not gain if it does not make the decision soon. EEU members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Also, Russia and Thailand will strengthen security cooperation and a joint committee will be established in procuring Russian weapons for the Thai military, Gen. Prayut said. There is a need to acquire helicopters for use in containing bush fires and natural disaster in Thailand and the procurement will be on a government-to-government basis to prevent malpractices, he added. (TNA)