Thai leader to visit, sign FTA with Abe next week
Japan Times, Tokyo
Thai leader to visit, sign FTA with Abe next week
28 March 2007
BANGKOK (Kyodo) Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has said Japan and Thailand will sign a free-trade agreement next week during his visit.
Surayud told Japanese reporters Monday that his April 2-5 trip to Japan to commemorate the 120th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations will include the signing of the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement.
According the schedule for the trip released by the office of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the signing is set for the evening of April 3.
Japan and Thailand reached a broad agreement in 2005 and a signing ceremony was supposed to take place in 2006. But a coup in September that ousted then Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had left the FTA in limbo.
The bilateral deal includes cuts or elimination of tariffs on industrial, agricultural, forestry and fishery products.
Surayud, who was installed as prime minister by the military in October, said the pact will be advantageous for Thailand’s agricultural, jewelry and textiles industries, while Japan will have better access to sell iron and steel products, automobiles and auto parts.
Besides signing the trade pact, Surayud said he and Abe will discuss bilateral and international issues as well as Thailand’s political situation.
"I have many things to talk about and explain to Prime Minister Abe, especially Thailand’s political situation, which Japan worries about," the prime minister said.
Surayud reiterated the Thai government’s market economy support and said it did not intend to shut the doors to its economy, as has been feared.
However, he said his government will continue to embrace the "sufficiency economy" philosophy initiated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, which focuses on practicing moderation in all human endeavors, reining in expectations to within the bounds of self-support and self-reliance.
