Thai DPM holds talks with EJF chief

BANGKOK, October 10 (TNA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan has welcomed visiting UK-based Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) Director Steve Trent and held talks on Thailand's progress in solutions to illegal fishery and related issues. Monday's talks at the Thai Ministry of Defence in Bangkok between the visiting EJF and the Thai deputy premier, who oversees national security, were focused on how Thailand has made substantial progress in handling Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing issues, which has been recognised by the international community, as it could be a model for other countries facing the similar situation. General Prawit informed the visiting EJF chief that delegations from other countries had also visited Thailand to learn on the country's solutions to the IUU fishing-related issues. The deputy prime minister later told journalists that his meeting with the EJF chief also confirmed Thailand's serious actions toward solutions to the IUU fishing-related issues, covering human trafficking. The deputy prime minister also noted that the Thai government has worked hard to solve other major problems as well, including the country's aviation and zero-tour issues. (TNA)