Thailand, Bahrain promote comprehensive cooperation

BANGKOK, May 14 (TNA) - Thailand and Bahrain are promoting bilateral cooperation to boost political, economic and social security and supporting their private sector in driving two-way trade and investment. On the second day of her official visit to Bahrain, scheduled for May 13-15, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra met Thai investors who do businesses in Bahrain to gather information before her talks with her Bahraini counterpart. Yingluck then attended an official reception ceremony, during which she inspected guards of honour and signed her name in visitors’ book, followed by a full-panel meeting on bilateral cooperation covering political, economic and social affairs. During the Thai-Bahraini plenary session, the Thai premier thanked the Bahraini government, as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), for supporting solutions to Thailand's insurgency-plagued southern border region and discussed bilateral cooperation on food security. The meeting also addressed Thai companies’ interest in construction and property development projects in Bahrain, especially the expansion of the Bahrain International Airport. Both the Thai and Bahraini authorities have now agreed to quickly conclude a bilateral agreement on trade, investment, research on farm products, halal food and health-oriented tourism, in which Thailand also agrees to extend Bahraini people’s stay in the Thai Kingdom, with visa exemption, to 30 days. After their talks, the Thai prime minister and her Bahraini counterpart also witnessed the signing of three memorandum of understandings (MOUs) on bilateral cooperation on tourism, cultures and the security on food, trade and investment concerning farm products, including halal food products. The Thai prime minister then attended a luncheon hosted by her Bahraini counterpart. (TNA)