Upon invitation of the Government of the State of Qatar, Her Excellency Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, paid an official visit to the State of Qatar between 15 and 16 May 2012. Her Excellency the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Industry, the Minister of Energy, senior officials and a high-level business delegation.
Her Excellency the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand was graciously granted a Royal Audience with His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. During the Royal Audience, Her Excellency reiterated the close ties existing between Thailand and Qatar.
A plenary session was held and chaired by Her Excellency the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand and His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. The two sides had a fruitful discussion on bilateral, regional and global issues. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the development of friendship and cooperation and reiterated their commitment to further enhance cooperation in all mutually beneficial areas.
The Thai side pointed out that, while Qatar is Thailand’s key partner for GCC and the Middle East region, Thailand is in a strategic location of the mainland of Southeast Asia. With the arrival of ASEAN Community in 2015, Thailand can therefore be a gateway and hub for Qatar into ASEAN and beyond.
Both sides shared the view that trade and investment should be intensified. Areas of cooperation include construction, food and agro industry, hospitality management, capital investment and energy. In this connection, the Thai side welcomed the initiative by His Excellency the Prime Minister of the State of Qatar on sending a high-level delegation to discuss investment opportunities in Thailand with the Thai private sector, especially in the fields of real estate, hotel and services, healthcare, capital market and food production industry.
During the visit, Her Excellency the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand gave a speech at a Thai — Qatari business conference on 16 May 2012. Her Excellency underscored the Thai — Qatari economic partnership and urged the private sector of both sides to enhance cooperation in the fields of energy, food security, capital investment and tourism.
Her Excellency the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand also had a meeting with His Excellency Mr. Hassan Abdulla Al-Thawadi, Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee. Her Excellency was briefed on the development projects planned for the hosting of the World Cup by Qatar in 2022. Her Excellency expressed readiness of the Thai private sector to participate in the development of infrastructure and sports facilities. Furthermore, Her Excellency visited ASPETAR Medical Center which was accredited to the FIFA Medical and Research Center (F-MARC). It is the first orthopedic sports medicine hospital in the Gulf region. A Thai private hospital, also F-MARC accredited, has already cooperated with ASPETAR on research and development and exchange of medical personnel.
Both sides welcomed progress made on the negotiation between the Qatargas and the PTT Public Company Limited of Thailand on the first long-term agreement to import LNG from Qatar to Thailand. Both sides agreed to further enhance cooperation on energy security.
The Thai side expressed appreciation for the Qatari side’s understanding towards the issue of Southern Border Provinces of Thailand and the contributions Qatar has made towards educational and economic development in Southern Thailand.
Both sides exchanged views on regional issues and expressed satisfaction on their common positions in regional and international issues. The Thai side praised active role of Qatar in regional and international affairs while the Qatari side commended Thailand’s leading role in the areas of regional integration as well as on the issues of regional and international peace and security.
The two sides expressed their satisfaction with the constructive spirit of friendship and cooperation that prevailed over their discussion, reflecting the close and cordial relations and resulting in closer cooperation between the two countries.
Her Excellency Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, expressed sincere thanks to the Government of the State of Qatar for the reception and hospitality extended by the Government of the State of Qatar to her and her delegation during the visit.
After the plenary session, the two Prime Ministers presided over the signing ceremony on the Agreement concerning the Regulation of Manpower Employment in the State of Qatar, the Cultural Cooperation Agreement, the Memorandum of Understanding on Health Cooperation, and the Joint Declaration on the Conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Trade and Investment in Agricultural Products and Commodities in Particular Halal Food, between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the State of Qatar.
Her Excellency Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, extended formal invitations to His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, and His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, to visit the Kingdom of Thailand
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