Thai PM to visit Tajikistan, Pakistan Aug 19-21

BANGKOK, August 16 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to pay official visits to Tajikistan and Pakistan from August 19-21, 2013, aimed mainly to boost trade and investment with the two countries. Yingluck's forthcoming official trip to Tajikistan is at the invitation of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon during his official visit to Thailand earlier, from May 17- 19, 2013. During her stay in Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital, the Thai prime minister, accompanied by her entourage, will hold both bilateral and plenary talks with the Tajik President to enhance bilateral ties and cooperation in trade, investment and others in the economic sphere, especially a plan on promoting Tajikistan as Thailand's gateway to Afghanistan, other countries in Central Asia and even those in the Middle East. The Thai prime minister is also scheduled to meet her Tajik counterpart Oqil Oqilov and to deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the United Nations High-Level International Conference on Water Cooperation, becoming one in only three world leaders invited for addressing on the stage, during which she plans to stress on the Thai government’s proactive roles on comprehensive water management and to build up international confidence in Thailand's water management programs. The Thai prime minister will then leave for Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, for her official trip at the invitation of her Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, who she will hold bilateral talks on enhancing economic partnership between Thailand and Pakistan, through cooperation on trade and investment, as well as on the construction, automobile and parts, jewelry and halal food sectors. Besides, the Thai prime minister will pay a courtesy call on Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and meet representatives of Thai students in Pakistan, before returning to Thailand on August 21. (TNA)