Thai PM visits France to promote economic partnership

PARIS, July 20 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is paying an official visit to France from July 20-21, aimed to promote economic partnership and extend Thailand's support for countries in the eurozone to overcome their ongoing financial crisis. Yingluck, who ended her three-day official trip to Germany on Thursday (local time), told journalists on Friday that during her stay in France, she will confirm Thailand’s intention to be a strategic partner of Paris in areas where both countries have become trading partners for a long time for mutual interest. Yingluck said she will also exchange opinions with French authorities on the current eurozone debt crisis and will show Thailand's support to the European Union (EU)'s attempts to promote good governance in economic affairs, help restore economic balance within the 27-member EU bloc and extend assistance to troubled EU member countries. The prime minister insisted that Thailand has maintained business partnership with France and she also plans to present Bangkok's strength as a centre for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to attract international investors, including those from France. (TNA)