Brunei promises Thailand priority fishing
BRUNEI has vowed to give Thailand priority as it considers allowing neighbouring countries to engage in more joint fishing activities in its waters, said Government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp yesterday.
Thailand also promised to guard against human smuggling in the fishery industry and to make sure it operates in line with Brunei’s rules and laws.
The spokesman was speaking as Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha returned to Bangkok after a two-day official visit to Brunei. Brunei is the sixth Asean country that Prayut has visited as prime minister.
The spokesman added that during the visit, Prayut and his Brunei counterpart, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, signed a memorandum of understanding on agricultural products, fishery, livestock and Halal food.
Prayut reaffirmed to Brunei that Thailand’s political development has progressed according to the set road map and both countries would strengthen cooperation in the areas of security, safety and anti-terrorism.
They also discussed alternative energy, the spokesman said, adding that Prayut thanked Brunei for importing about 30,000 tonnes of Thai rice per year. “Brunei said about 90 per cent of Bruneians love eating Thai rice, including riceberry,” he said.
Prayut asked Sultan Bolkiah, who is the most senior Asean leader to host a meeting on agricultural products, to seek measures to decrease production costs and make better prices of the agricultural products. He also accepted Prayut’s invitation to visit Thailand.
