BANGKOK, 18 November 2013 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has welcomed Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as an official guest of the Thai government and indicates the two countries will boost collaboration in exchanging intelligence on terrorist and transnational crime networks.
At Government House on Monday, Prime Minister Yingluck welcomed Mr. Sharif during his official visit with an honor guard reception before they started discussing state affairs. The two leaders then held a joint press conference at Government House, with the Thai prime minister thanking the Pakistani government for accepting her invitation for an official visit to Thailand and participating in the Connect Asia-Pacific Summit 2013.
Thailand and Pakistan are engaging in trade and investment collaborations at all levels. At the beginning of 2014, the two countries will discuss the feasibility of a bilateral free trade deal at the meeting of the joint trade commission.
Thailand and Pakistan are both confident of achieving a doubling of bilateral trade by the year 2018. The two nations are also keen on increasing collaborations in exchanging information on terrorist cells and transnational crime rings. Importantly, Pakistan is slated to become a new dialogue partner of ASEAN.
Mr. Sharif highlighted the significance of the two countries’ long-established relations and said Pakistan is ready to take collaborations with Thailand to a higher level, in every dimension. According to him, the Thai and Pakistani economies are synergistic to one another, due mainly to their geographical locations. He asserted that the two countries will use this fact in bringing about trade and investment collaborations and in linking the two countries.
After the press meet, Prime Minister Yingluck hosted a reception dinner in honor of the Pakistani prime minister and his delegation.
