On 12 January 2009, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva welcomed Dr. Jose Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, who is on his Official Visit to Thailand, as the first high-level guest of this Administration, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two leaders held discussions in an atmosphere of friendship and cooperation and agreed to deepen their multi-faceted cooperation. Prime Minister Abhisit reaffirmed Thailand’s determination to continue supporting Timor-Leste in its efforts to achieve stability and prosperity, including through the ongoing UN Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) in its nation-building efforts.
Areas of bilateral cooperation discussed included technical cooperation, agriculture, and energy. Thailand reaffirmed its commitment to provide assistance to Timor-Leste in areas in which Thailand has expertise including that of agricultural development. Thailand is ready to provide training courses to agricultural officials from Timor-Leste and to send Thai experts to Timor-Leste to help improve local rice production and research as well as in fisheries and livestock development. The President expressed his appreciation for Thailand’s proposal.
Both sides acknowledged the immense potential in the energy sector and agreed to work in partnership. After the discussion, Prime Minister Abhisit and President Romos-Horta witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Cooperation in Energy Development between PTT Public Company Limited of Thailand and the Secretary of State for Natural Resources of Timor-Leste. Both leaders were confident that this MOU would pave the way for closer cooperation in the field of energy in the future.
As Chair of ASEAN, the Prime Minister reiterated to President Ramos-Horta Thailand’s support for Timor-Leste’s intention to become a member of ASEAN by 2012 and looked forward to inviting Timor-Leste to attend the 42nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) as guest of the Chair and to participate in the 16th ARF in Thailand later this year.
In just seven years of their diplomatic relations, the relations between Thailand and Timor-Leste have grown at a satisfactory pace and will further expand with the opening of Timor-Leste’s Embassy in Bangkok on 11 January 2009.
Prime Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Division, Department of Information Tel.(02) 643-5170
Fax. (02) 643-5169 E-mail : div0704@mfa.go.th End.