Russian PM to visit Thailand

BANGKOK, April 6 (TNA) - Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will pay a two-day official visit to Thailand, starting Tuesday. It is the first visit of a Russian prime minister to Thailand in 25 years. Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha is scheduled to welcome Mr. Medvedev and hold talks on ways to strengthen bilateral relations in every field, especially on ways to increase trade and investment as well as on how to reduce obstacles in order to boost commerce. Both sides are also expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on business and energy cooperation, an exchange of culture and on promoting trade and investment. Currently, two-way trade value between the two countries totaled about 4.9 billion U.S. dollars. Thailand still suffers trade deficit to that country. Major products exported by Thailand to Russia are car and spare parts, jewellery products, plastic resins, canned processed fruits and rubber products. Thailand imports crude oil, iron and steel and fertiliser from Russia. On tourism, about 1.6 million Russian tourists visit Thailand annually while only 20,000 Thais travel to Russia. (TNA)