On 20 November 2008, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sompong Amornvivat held bilateral discussions with four Foreign Ministers who also attended the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Lima, Peru: Mr. Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Mr. Alejandro Foxley, Foreign Minister of Chile, Mr. Stephen Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia, and Mr. Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada.
During DPM/FM Sompong’s discussion with his Russian counterpart, the two sides expressed their concern about the current global financial crisis. DPM/FM Sompong informed Mr. Lavrov about the work of ASEAN+3 in promoting the Chiang Mai Initiative to assist countries in need of emergency fund. The Russian Foreign Minister stressed the importance of regional cooperation especially the synchronization of macroeconomic policies among countries, adding that promoting more currencies in circulation can also be useful. On bilateral issues, DPM/FM Sompong expressed his appreciation to Russia’s warm welcome during Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s official visit in 2007. Both sides also agreed to expedite Plan of Consultations between the Foreign Ministries of both sides as well as establish Thai-Russian High Joint Commission at the earliest opportunity. Also following closely the extradition of Russian national Victor Bout, the Russian side expressed strong confidence in the impartiality and fairness of the Thai judicial system.
During his meeting with Chilean Foreign Minister, DPM/FM Sompong expressed high hope that the Chilean side can expedite the process for the Convention for the Avoidance of Double Taxation to enter into force soon. The Chilean side also showed a strong interest in negotiating Free Trade Agreement with Thailand. DPM/FM Sompong therefore briefed the Chilean Foreign Minister of the Thai procedure in doing so and also the need to follow Article 190 of the Thai Constitution.
DPM/FM Sompong also talked to Australian Foreign Minister and asked his counterpart to consider Thailand as part of Electronic Travel Authority programme in order to facilitate the Thai nationals’ traveling to Australia, as more than 80,000 Thais travel to Australia each year. DPM/FM Sompong also thanked his Australian counterpart for increasing Thailand’s quota for Work Holiday Visa from 200 to 500 persons, saying that the programme, very popular in Thailand, presents as a good opportunity for Thai youths to work and travel in Australia simultaneously.
During the APEC Meeting, DPM/FM Sompong also discussed with Foreign Minister of Canada, the two sides praised the close and cordial relations between the two countries. Thailand and Canada have collaborated closely both at the bilateral and multilateral levels. In this regards, DPM/FM Sompong asked Canada to support Thailand’s candidature on Committee on the Rights of the Child, for which the Australian side will take Thailand’s request into consideration.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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