Singaporean defence chief thanks Thailand for continuous joint drills

BANGKOK, May 25 (TNA) -- The chief of Singapore’s defence force called on Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and expressed gratitude for Thailand’s continuous participation in joint military exercises. Defence spokesman Kongcheep Tantrawanit said Maj Gen Melvyn Ong met Gen Prawit at the Defence Ministry. He paid the official visit on May 23-29 to introduce himself as the new Chief of Defence Force of the Singapore Armed Forces. Gen Prawit congratulated him for his new appointment. In the visit, Maj Gen Melvyn also obtained a royal decoration of the Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand for the sake of bilateral ties. Gen Prawit and Maj Gen Melvyn agreed to further boost bilateral and multilateral cooperation covering joint military drills. Lt Gen Kongcheep said Maj Gen Melvyn expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome for his visit and for Thai armed forces’ cooperation on joint military exercises with Singaporean armed forces. Maj Gen Melvyn also called on Thai Supreme Commander Thanchaiyan Srisuwan at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters. He was received with the guards of honour from Thai armed forces. Both sides discussed bilateral and multilateral cooperation on intelligence exchange, education, defence industry and joint air and sea patrols, among other areas. (TNA)