BANGKOK, June 1 – Thailand and Sri Lanka have agreed to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation on religion, trade and investment, and education, according to a government spokesman.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who is currently visiting the South Asian island country, held talks with Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa on a variety of issues and closer cooperation between the two countries.
The Thai leader hailed the Sri Lankan government for its success in peace dialogues with separatist militants Tamil Eelam in the last few years.
Ms Yingluck said the religious relationship between Thailand and Sri Lanka has been healthy, with educational exchange programmes for Thai and Sri Lanka Buddhist monks and Buddhism-related tourism for pilgrimage.
On trade and investment, the two countries agreed to enhance bilateral investment and exchange business information for mutual benefits.
Mr Rajapaksa invited Thai businessmen to invest in Sri Lanka, especially on infrastructure development projects, power generating, small and medium industries and production for export.
Regarding technical cooperation, the two leaders emphasised human resource development with exchange programmes for educators, and development of school management and information technology for education.
Ms Yingluck proposed measures to eliminate obstacles on aviation in order to connect Thailand with Asian countries and facilitate travels.
The two countries agreed to multilateral cooperation on a regional and international basis under the frameworks of the World Trade Organisation, United National Conference on Trade and Development, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, and Asia Cooperation Dialogue.
Ms Yingluck and Mr Rajapaksa witnessed the signing of four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on visa exemption for diplomats and government officials, tourism cooperation, science and technology cooperation and the establishment of Ayutthaya and Kandy as sister cities. (MCOT online news)
