PM says Australia visit a success
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Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Tuesday expressed her satisfaction with her official visit to Australia, as Canberra has agreed to consider lifting its ban on the importation of Thai chicken meat and frozen shrimp as requested, Thai News Agency
The Thai premier visited Australia from May 26 to 29 as a guest of the Australian government during the celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the two nations’ establishing diplomatic relations.
She said that the overall trip could be considered as successful as the two premiers signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) on Cooperation in Education and Training and a Young Political Leaders’ Exchange Programme to further strengthen ties between the two peoples.
Yingluck said during the discussion with her Australian counterpart Julia Gillard, the Australian prime minister agreed to consider lifting the ban on Thai chicken meat and frozen shrimp and would consider importing more rice from Thailand.
The Thailand-Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) was signed on July 5, 2004 and came into effect on January 1, 2005, which gradually increased bilateral trade and investment between the two countries, she said.
TAFTA is set to grow 20 per cent by 2016, she said, adding that the countries discussed ways to reduce obstacles under TAFTA such as tax barriers and will have a joint committee meeting to further consider the matter in June.
Yingluck said that meeting between the two women leaders could provide an advantage in helping strengthen bilateral ties.
During the visit, Yingluck said, she launched the campaign “Thailand: Kitchen to the World” to publicise food products and raise awareness about food security among the population.
“Thailand is an agricultural producer whose products are qualified by competitive pricing,” she said. “This helps address the food security problem. Its significance increases when the world faces growing challenges such as climate change, and natural disasters, which sometimes leads to food shortages.
Yingluck later met New South Wales Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner and discussed a wide range of cooperation. She also thanked Sydney residents who helped Thailand during the massive flood last year.
The Thai premier exchanged ideas with Gillard on responding to natural disasters in the future.
Yingluck thanked Stoner, who is also Minister for Trade and Investment and Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services of New South Wales, for his efforts in taking care of Thai community in New South Wales.
Some 40,000 Thais live in New South Wales and there could be a good opportunity for cultural exchanges between Thais and Australians, she said.
Yingluck was to leave Australia on Tuesday and was scheduled to arrive back in Thailand in the evening.
