Mr. Kasit Piromya, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to pay an introductory visit to the Republic of the Philippines from 8 to 9 February 2009. The visit coincides with the 60 th Anniversary celebration of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Philippines this year. ???
During the visit, Foreign Minister Kasit will pay a courtesy call on the President and meet with the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. He will also receive briefings on the Peace Process in Mindanao and the Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) from the Filipino authorities concerned as well as visit the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD). A meeting with the Thai community and the Heads of Thai Government offices (Team Thailand) in the Philippines is also scheduled. ???
The Thai Foreign Minister is expected to discuss with his Filipino counterparts on various bilateral and regional issues of mutual interests, including tourism, trade and investment as well as the impact of the world financial crisis. He will also take this opportunity to reaffirm Thailand’s readiness to host the 14th ASEAN Summit in Cha-am and Hua Hin and the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers’ Meeting in Phuket. ???
The visit would provide a good opportunity for Thailand and the Philippines to reaffirm their close and cordial partnership and to explore how the two countries could strengthen their relations in the changing global landscape and in the ASEAN framework.
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