Thailand, China boost scientific, technical cooperation

BANGKOK, July 31 (TNA) - Ties between Thailand and China have been further strengthened, as representatives from both countries jointly signed a summary record in Bangkok on Tuesday to boost bilateral scientific and technical cooperation between the two Asian long-standing allies. The agreement was signed at the 20th Session of the Sino-Thai Joint Committee on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, with the presence of Thai and Chinese delegations led by Thai Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Jullapong NonSrichai and Chinese Vice Minister for Science and Technology Cao Jianlin. The meeting outlined Thai-Sino cooperation programmes for 2012-2014 focusing on areas of agriculture, public health, energy and science, technology and innovation, under which 20 short-term exchange visits, each in a group of less than 5 persons for not exceeding 6 days, are included, together with the implementation of 29 relevant research and development projects. China, as a key dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which Thailand is a member country, has also agreed with Thailand’s proposal to consider extending the Thai-Sino cooperation to third countries, particularly those in the 10-member ASEAN, with a working group to be then set up to study on the proposed areas of cooperation and on estimated budget needed for each programme. Such the meeting will be held every 18 months, with its 21st session set to organise in China in 2014 but its venue and date to be later concluded. (TNA)