Thai Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrived in Tajikistan’s capital of Dushanbe on August 19 to attend the ‘High-Level International Conference on Water Cooperation’ at the invitation of President Emomalii Rahmon.

Prime Minister Yingluck will use the stage to present and exchange ‘visions’ and ideas related to the schemes and management of water being adopted by the Thai government.

The visit is the first by Prime Minister Yingluck to Tajikistan and Central Asia and is seen as the dawn of new relationship between Thailand and countries in this region, which is expected to create new opportunities in political cooperation, trade and investment.

During the visit, the Thai premier is scheduled to meet with President Rahmon, the Parliament President and the Prime Minister of Tajikistan. The two countries will also sign an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

After Tajikistan, Prime Minister Yingluck will continue her trip to the Republic of Pakistan at the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. The August 20-21 visit will be the first official one in 11 years by a Thai leader. It is designed to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment and tourism.

While in Pakistan, she will hold discussions with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during which she will assure the latter of the firm business partnership between the two countries.

They will also witness the signing of three documents relating to visa exemption for official passport holders and the setting up of a joint trade committee and a joint business council.-VNA