Thailand, Aust launch New Colombo Plan
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THAILAND and Australia yesterday launched the New Colombo Plan in Bangkok in a bid to strengthen the trading and interpersonal relationship between both countries, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sek Wannamethee said.
The ceremony was presided over by Foreign Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn and his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop, who is visiting as a guest of the Foreign ministry.
The project sends Australian undergraduate students to countries in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions for tertiary study, development of international friendships, and the enhancement of relationships between countries.
The project was re-introduced in 2014 and extended to involve more countries.
It is expected that the plan will strengthen the long-standing relationships between Australia and other Indo-Pacific countries.
Sek and Bishop also discussed social, economic, and public policies issues, plus bilateral relations.
Australia downgraded Thailand after then-Army chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha staged a coup last May.
In a joint statement by Bishop and Australian Defence Minister David Johnson, they said: “The Australian government said it had postponed three activities with the Thai military and would prevent leaders of the coup from travelling to Australia, as it continues to have grave concerns about the military’s actions in Thailand.
“In line with our concerns, Australia is reducing our engagement with the Thai military and will lower the level of our interaction with the Thai military leadership.”
