On 30 April 2012, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul held bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on the occasion of the latter’s visit to Thailand, gist as follows:
1. Foreign Minister Surapong thanked the ROK for receiving Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during her official visit to the ROK from 24-26 March 2012. In turn, the ROK also expressed appreciation to Prime Minister Yingluck for attending the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul during 26-27 March 2012.
2. In terms of Thai-ROK bilateral relations, both sides discussed various issues of common interest, namely the initiative of having an MOU as a framework to elevate Thai-ROK relations to the strategic partnership status as agreed by the two leaders, the revival of the Joint Commission (JC), the convening of the Joint Trade Commission (JTC) which Thailand would host in 2012, as well as the expansion of military cooperation. Furthermore, both sides encouraged the Korean private sector investment in infrastructural projects in Thailand, especially in the area of water management, as well as their participation in regional connectivity, particularly in terms of transportation linkages, which would also include the development of the Dawei Deep-Seaport and its Industrial Estate Project.
3. On this occasion, the ROK expressed their desire to set up a Korean Education Centre and a Korean Cultural Centre in Thailand in 2012 to encourage the training of Korean language and the studying of Korean culture for Thais and foreigners residing in Thailand.
4. In terms of regional and international cooperation, both sides also exchanged views on the current development in the Korean Peninsula, the positive development in Myanmar and the possibility of trilateral cooperation between Thailand, the ROK and Myanmar, regional cooperation (under the frameworks of ASEAN-ROK, ASEAN + 3 and Mekong-ROK), as well as cooperation in the United Nations.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th