Deputy PM visits India

BANGKOK, March 17 (TNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon left the Thai capital Thursday for a two-day official visit to India. Gen Prawit who is also Defence Minister was accompanied by several high-ranking officers including Deputy Commerce Minister Suvit Maesincee, Supreme Commander Gen Sommai Kaotira and national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaichinda. Gen Prawit is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on India’s vice president, defence minister and security advisers during the visit. The two Asian countries will celebrate their 70th establishment of diplomatic relations in 2017. In February, Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India has paid an official visit to Thailand as guest of the Thai Government. India is Thailand’s number 1 trade partner from South Asia, and there are still potentials for expansion of trade and investment between each other. Both parties came to terms on increasing mutual trade volumes by pushing ahead the negotiation on Thai-Indian FTA which would also be a key mechanism in promoting economic cooperation. (TNA)