Thailand, India boost bilateral ties

Thailand ’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is making a two-day state-level visit to India with the aim of stepping up bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, security, and national defence.
Thailand ’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is making a two-daystate-level visit to India with the aim of stepping up bilateralcooperation in economy, trade, security, and national defence.

Speaking at a press briefing held on April 5, the day he arrived inNew Delhi , PM Abhisit said political instability and economic downturnin Thailand will not affect the two countries’ relations.

Stressingon the two countries’ potentials for tourism cooperation, the Thaileader called on Indian companies to increase their investment in hiscountry’s tourism industry and pledged to create favourable conditionsfor them.

According to Indian Minister of Commerceand Industry Anand Sharma, the two countries are negotiating intensivelytheir free trade agreement and plan to sign it by the end of this year.

In 2010, India and Thailand traded goods worth 6.6billion USD, a rise of 34 percent over 2009. India businesspeople haveinvested 15 billion USD in steel, IT, chemical and healthcare projectsin Thailand .

India and Thailand launchedjoint naval drills and sea patrols and will continue stepping up theircooperation in fighting pirates and dealing with global climate changeand natural disasters./.

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