MOSCOW, Sept 16 – Thailand’s deputy prime minister in his dual capacity as commerce minister affirmed that China is to buy 1.2 million tonnes of Thai rice.
Now in Moscow, Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan spoke of the matter after presiding over the opening ceremony of “Thailand Week in Russia 2013”.
His statement followed a comment by Democrat Party-list MP Korn Chatikavanij’s on his Facebook page asking again who lied regarding China’s agreement to buy Thai rice in such a quantity.
Mr Korn said Reuters news agency reported the Chinese authorities had denied the claim.
However, according to Mr Niwatthamrong, the negotiation in China’s Heilongjiang province attracted the interests of China’s Beidahuang Group to buy 1.2 million tonnes of Thai rice and 200,000 tonnes of rubber.
The minister said the agreement is being negotiated and is expected to be signed within two weeks. The conclusion is not yet made whether the contract will be signed in China or Thailand.
