PM to attend Asean-Russia summit, meet Medvedev

This will be the first time in 11 years for a Thai prime minister to visit that country officially, according to Deputy Government Spokesman Maj-General Werachon Sukhondhapatipak.

General Prayut will be accompanied by his wife Naraporn Chan-o-cha and eight ministers, of foreign affairs, justice, interior, agriculture and cooperatives, natural resources and environment, commerce, science and technology, and culture, Werachon said. The delegation will leave Thailand on Monday.

Thaksin Shinawatra was the last prime minister to visit Russia, in 2005.

Prayut will meet with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev for the fourth time in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday. They will discuss bilateral cooperation on economic, tourism, cultural, academic, and science and innovation matters, Werachon said.

He also noted that Thailand and Russia would mark 120 years of diplomatic ties next year.

Watana Khunwong, deputy director-general of the Foreign Ministry’s Europe Department, said Prayut and Medvedev would witness the signing of six memoranda of understanding on bilateral cooperation and three MoUs between businesses of the two countries.

Prayut then will travel to Sochi on Thursday, when he is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will host the Asean-Russia summit together with Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, whose country holds the rotating Asean presidency this year.

Prayut will sign the Sochi Declaration, a draft 2016-20 operation plan to support Asean-Russian cooperation, and a report of recommendations on Asean-Russia relations together with other leaders.