Yingluck to miss charter debate for China, Japan
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Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will miss the parliamentary meeting on Constitution amendment shortly after the long Songkran holiday in favour of a trip to China and Japan from April 17-22.
Thailand and China will sign a five-year agreement on strategic cooperation during Yingluck’s visit to Beijing from April 17-20, a government statement said yesterday.
At the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Yingluck’s visit is aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership plan between the two countries.
Projects on the agenda will include Thailand’s planned high-speed train link as well as water management and flood prevention.
Besides the strategic cooperation plan, the two countries are also set to sign pacts for cooperation on trade and education, according to the Thai government.
Accompanying Yingluck will be private-sector representatives from firms including CP Group, Mitr Phol, Saha Farm, Sor Khon Khaen, PTT, Banpu and Italian-Thai.
Yingluck will then visit Japan from April 20-22 for the Japan-Mekong summit. This leg of her trip will also include a visit to the One Tambon One Product (Otop) outlet in southern Japan’s Kumamoto prefecture.
At the Japan-Mekong summit, leaders from Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam will discuss and adopt a three-year plan of cooperation for 2013 to 2015.
In Yingluck’s absence, Parliament is set to debate the charter amendment on April 18-19. It will be the second time Yingluck has skipped such an important parliamentary session. Early this month she missed a parliamentary debate on the reconciliation plan in favour of attending the Asean summit in Cambodia.
