Thai PM visits Japan

BANGKOK, March 6 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is paying a four-day official visit to Japan, scheduled for March 6-9, to build up Japanese investors’ confidence in Thailand's flood prevention and rehabilitation and to exchange experiences in disaster relief. Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul,Information and Communication Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap, Industry Ministry M.R. Pongsavas Svasti, Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sithiphan, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Nalinee Taveesin, Yingluck and her only son, Supasek Amornchat, left Thailand's main Suvarnabhumi International Airport Tuesday afternoon. Before the departure, Yingluck told reporters that she would boost bilateral relations, visit the Japanese Emperor and meet Japanese investors to restore their confidence in Thailand regarding flood prevention and rehabilitation measures, as Japan is an important trading partner of Thailand and a number of Japanese industries have their production bases in the country. The prime minister said that Thai business operators who are interested in investing in Japan are also accompanying her, and that she plans to discuss the promotion of trade, exports, investment and tariff privileges at a forum of the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA). According to the Pheu Thai premier, she will visit Sendai City as well to see Japan's tsunami-stricken areas and to boost the morale of victims and affected Thai workers there and will also exchange experiences in disaster relief operations with Japanese authorities. (TNA)