Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Switzerland is seeking trade and investment opportunities in Thailand due to the Eurozone economic crisis.
The foreign minister met the media after bilateral talks with Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalteron on the sidelines of the 5th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) which ended last week.
Surapong reported that his Swiss counterpart said his country is looking for opportunities for more trade and investment in Asia as the eurozone countries are in an extended economic crisis.
Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul.
He said Switzerland is keen to invest in Thailand as a gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN), a region whose markets it wants to penetrate.
Most important, Surapong said, is that Switzerland wants to see stable politics in Thailand as well as national reconciliation.
The Swiss foreign minister said his country is willing to support Thailand’s approach to reconciliation and is ready to provide knowledge and its own experience for the kingdom.
Surapong said that he has asked the Swiss government to support Thailand’s application to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
He said, according to Didier, the Swiss government welcomed Thailand’s request.