BANGKOK, 8th May 2014 – The Foreign Ministers of Thailand and Australia have held talks prior to the launch of the New Colombo Plan today in Bangkok to strengthen the trading and interpersonal relationship of the two countries, says an MFA official.
According to the Director-General of the Department of Information Sek Wannamethee, The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn has welcomed and held discussions with the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop during her official visit to Thailand as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The discussion is reported to have covered issues regarding social, economic, and public policies, as well as the relationship between Thailand and Australia.
The two Foreign Ministers will this afternoon be presiding over the launch ceremony of the New Colombo Plan project that sends Australian undergraduate students to countries in the Asia-Pacific and Indian ocean regions for tertiary study, development of international friendships, and enhancement of the good relationship between neighboring countries.
The project was re-introduced in 2014, with Thailand as a member state of the New Colombo Plan that has been extended to involve more countries. It is expected that the plan will strengthen the long standing relationships between Australia and other Indo-Pacific countries.
