BANGKOK, Oct 30 – Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon is visiting China to prepare for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s trip there, while former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, also in China, has delayed her return to Thailand.
Defence Ministry spokesman Col Khongcheep Tantrawanit said that Gen Prawit’s delegation began its visit to China on Tuesday through tomorrow.
The minister was scheduled to meet Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan and is expected to convince China to buy more Thai farm products apart from working out Gen Prayut’s upcoming visit to China.
The visit is taking place at the same time that former prime ministers Yingluck and Thaksin Shinawatra are also in China.
Somkid Jatusripitak, a member of the National Council for Peace and Order, has joined Gen Prawit’s delegation on the trip.
Army spokesman Col Winthai Suvari said Ms Yingluck postponed her return to Thailand from Oct 26 to an undisclosed later date.
Yesterday Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Vice Chinese Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin co-chaired the 8th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting on Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (ASEAN-China SOM on DOC) at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok.
Mr Sihasak said both sides supported cooperation at senior official level and working groups and China realized the importance of the ASEAN-China Joint Working Group.
In addition, the meeting agreed with operating a hotline for emergencies at sea and plans for command-based search and rescue exercises.
