Thailand, Canada to expand cooperation on trade and investment

BANGKOK, March 23 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday received at Bangkok's Government her Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper, who is paying his three-day official visit to Thailand from March 22 to 24, during which the two leaders discussed bilateral trade and investment cooperation between Canada and Thailand and acknowledged the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries. Yingluck brought her visiting Canadian counterpart to inspect guards of honor in front of the Thai Khu Fah Building inside the government seat, before discussing the bilateral cooperation, which also covered the energy, education and security sectors, as well as international issues. The two leaders then witnessed the signing of a bilateral agreement between Canada and Thailand and a memorandum of understanding or MOU on youth exchange and cooperation between the Royal Thai Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada. The Canadian and Thai prime ministers then held a press conference, during which they also mentioned the 35th anniversary of bilateral relations between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which Thailand is a member country. The Thai prime minister later hosted a luncheon for the visiting Canadian leader and his entourage. (TNA)