French PM to visit Thailand

BANGKOK, January 22 (TNA) - French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will pay a two-day official visit to Thailand, scheduled for February 4-5, at the invitation of his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra. Ayrault will become the first French Prime Minister to pay an official visit to Thailand in seven years, as the guest of the Thai government, underlining the determination of both countries to boost their strategic partnership, which began in 2004. Discussions between the French and the Thai prime ministers will focus on trade and investment opportunities, as well as bilateral cooperation between Paris and Bangkok for mutual benefits, including cooperation on infrastructure, education, research and renewable energy projects. Thailand and France are interested in the ASEAN Community (AC), set to be formed by 2015, as well as connectivity among countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and the development in Asia Pacific and Europe. (TNA)