On 25 May 2009, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met separately with several foreign ministers and heads of delegations on the sidelines of the 9th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Hanoi. They include Mr. Jan Kohout, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, who currently holds the Presidency of the European Union, Mr. Salman Bashir, Foreign Secretary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and Mr. Alexander Stubb, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland.
In the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Kohout, both sides agreed to promote more exchanges of high level visits as well as to expedite the signing of the Agreement on Economic Cooperation. Foreign Minister Kasit also asked the Czech Republic to consider lifting the suspension of visa issuance to workers from Thailand and other countries as Thai workers were in high demand there, especially in the spa and restaurant industries. At the same time, Foreign Minister Kasit said there was demand in Thailand for Czech musical instructors as well as for businesses to repair and manufacture musical instruments in the Kingdom. On ASEAN-EU relations, both sides looked forward to EU’s accession to the Treaty on Amity and Cooperation (TAC), tentatively scheduled to take place during the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting/Post-Ministerial Conferences and the ASEAN Regional Forum, to be held in Thailand this July. Both sides also discussed recent developments in Myanmar with Deputy Prime Minister Kohout welcoming the statement recently issued by Thailand as the ASEAN Chair. In this regard, Foreign Minister Kasit reiterated Thailand’s support for the process of national reconciliation and democratization in Myanmar, as well as its call for the release of political prisoners there, so as to ensure that elections in Myanmar next year would be more inclusive.
In his bilateral with Foreign Secretary Bashir, both sides agreed to work together to strengthen even further the comprehensive relations and cooperation between Thailand and Pakistan. Foreign Minister Kasit thanked Pakistan for its understanding of the situation in the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand and for scholarships provided to Thai students to further their studies in Pakistan. Additionally, Foreign Minister Kasit reiterated Thailand’s support for Pakistan to become a full dialogue partner of ASEAN, building upon its current participation as a sectoral dialogue partner.
As for his bilateral with Foreign Minister Stubb, Foreign Minister Kasit briefed his counterpart about the political situation in Thailand as well as the Government’s efforts to stimulate the economy. Recent developments in ASEAN and its community building process were also discussed, including Thailand’s efforts to ensure the increased participation of civil society. Both sides also agreed to promote closer cooperation in bio-energy, alternative energy, ICT,research and development and education. Reciprocal support for each other’s candidature to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the Human Rights Council was also discussed, as was recent developments in Myanmar.
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