Thai PM to visit China

BANGKOK, April 16 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will pay a three-day official visit to China, starting from April 17, at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao, aimed at strengthening relations between Beijing and Bangkok. Several high-ranking officials and senior executives from about 100 firms will accompany Yingluck during the visit, when Thailand and China are expected to sign several agreements, including high speed train, water management, renewable energy, human resources, education and cultural exchange projects. Also, bilateral cooperation under regional frameworks of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Mekong Sub-region rojects are expected to be signed. Yingluck told journalists Monday that she will inspect Chinese technology on high speed train and her government will then make a decision on a final selection because several other countries have also proposed for the investment in the Kingdom. China and Thailand in February this year agreed to set up a joint working committee to implement a high speed train project through a memorandum of understanding or MOU signed earlier. On bilateral trade, Yingluck acknowledged, the two countries have agreed as well to boost bilateral trade and investment by at least 15 per cent within five years. Because of the current global economic volatility, Yingluck said her government has attached importance to the Chinese market, as China is one of Thailand's major trading partners. Therefore, Thailand should cooperate with China in every field, including investment covering becoming an investment springboard to ASEAN. (TNA)