BANGKOK, Feb 9 –Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha left Bangkok Sunday for a three-day official visit to Japan, his first visit to that country since the military seized power May 22.
Accompanied by his wife and several cabinet ministers including Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Affairs Minister Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn, Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, and Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul; the prime minister left for Tokyo at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.
A Thai government spokesman said the purpose of Gen Prayut’s visit is to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries, naming, in particular, dual track rail development in Thailand, development of the Dawei Special Economic Zone in Myanmar and ways to further promote Thailand-Japan trade and investment.
Besides holding a bilateral discussion with Mr Abe, Gen Prayut is also scheduled to have an audience with Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito at Akasaka Palace today.
During the visit the two governments are expected to sign a memorandum of intent on developing the dual track rail project, a memorandum of cooperation on promoting business in each country and private business cooperation in third countries.
