Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra begins Pakistan’s visit

Prime Minister of Thailand, Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday on a two-day official visit to Pakistan for talks on bilateral relations, focusing on economic partnership between the two nations. 

This bilateral visit from Thailand would take place after more than a decade, the Foreign Ministry says. Previously Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra, brother of Prime Minister Yingluck had visited Pakistan in July 2002.  

During the visit, three documents are expected to be signed, namely Agreement on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic Passports, memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Establishment of Joint Trade Committee, and MoU on the Establishment of the Joint Business Council. 

Pakistani ministers, senior officials and diplomats received the Thai Prime Minister on her arrival at a military airbase near Islamabad.

She was given a 19-gun salute and a contingent of Pakistani forces, drawn from three services, presented guard of honour to the guest at Noor Khan airbase.

The Thai Prime Minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising cabinet members, high officials and businessmen, officials said.

The Thai dignitary would call on the President, hold official talks with the Prime Minister who would host a banquet in her honor.

The Thai business delegation would hold separate meetings with their Pakistani counterpart on 20 August 2013.

The inaugural session of Pakistan-Thailand Joint Trade Committee would be held on Wednesday.

Officials say that she will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and will discuss bilateral cooperation to strengthen Thai-Pakistani trade and investment relations, multilateral cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.

The official visit to Pakistan by the Thai premier is the first in 11 years and reaffirms over six decades of close and cordial relations between Thailand and Pakistan.

Pakistan says both Pakistan and Thailand are committed to build a strong economic partnership and that the potential for bilateral trade to thrive and flourish is immense.

Bilateral trade was close to USD 1 billion mark during 2012 with Pakistan’s exports of USD105 million and imports of USD878 million. Major export items from Pakistan include yarn and fibers as well as fresh aquatic animals, frozen and chilled.

The main imports from Thailand include motor cars, auto parts and accessories, chemical products and synthetic filaments. 

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=41286

Posted by Tahir Khan on Aug 20 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.