Ukrainian defence minister visits Thailand

BANGKOK, January 30 (TNA) - Ukrainian Defence Minister Pavlo Lebedev is paying a three-day official visit to Thailand, from January 29-31, as the guest of the Thai Ministry of Defence, aimed to boost bilateral relations. Accompanied by his entourage, the visiting Ukrainian Defence Minister was received by his Thai counterpart Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat on Wednesday, together with a parade of guards of honour from the Royal Thai Armed Forces. Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol told reporters that he had invited his Ukrainian counterpart to visit Thailand during his trip to Ukraine last year to enhance the Thai-Ukrainian relations. The Thai defence minister acknowledged that there is no plan to revive a project to produce Ukrainian tanks in Thailand, as the Defence Technology Institute is studying the possibility to build original armoured vehicles in the country as earlier ordered by him because Thailand needs more armoured vehicles and has automotive potential. During his stay in Thailand, the visiting Ukrainian defence minister is also scheduled to visit the 2nd Infantry Division of the Royal Guards and to inspect the BTR-3E1 wheeled armoured personnel carriers Thailand has imported from Ukraine. (TNA)