Montenegro, Thailand to strengthen trade relations

MONTENEGRO, September 14 (TNA) - Montenegro and Thailand have agreed to strengthen trade and investment relations, with Montenegro acting as Thailand's gateway to Eastern Europe and the Balkans and Thailand as Montenegro's gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told journalists of the agreement on Friday (Sept 13, local time), after her bilateral talks with her Montenegrin counterpart Milo Djukanovic, during which Yingluck, who is also defence minister, proposed as well that the two countries, which have established diplomatic relations since 2007, should have their senior officials exchanged visits to each other country more often. Praising Montenegro for its open economic policy, the Thai prime minister noted that both countries have also agreed to strengthen ties and cooperation in other areas, including tourism, culture and fishery. Besides, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between the two countries to set up a joint trade committee tasked with encouraging private businesses of both countries to widen cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, and food industry, based on their governments' support. The Thai premier's visit to Montenegro is part of her ongoing eight-day trip to Europe, scheduled for September 8-15, covering her official visits to Switzerland, Italy and the Vatican City earlier. (TNA)