PM to meet Thai PM in New Delhi tomorrow

New Delhi: Coordinated patrolling in the sea to deal with piracy and cooperation in defence and infrastructure will be the focus of discussions between Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and his Thai counterpart Abhisit Vejjajiva in New Delhi tomorrow. He arrives on a day long state visit tomorrow. Briefing reporters, the External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said that wide ranging discussions on international, regional and bilateral issues will come up for discussion in the talks.
Referring to cooperation in the patrolling sea, he said the two countries share a common maritime boundary and have seen a robust expansion of its trade and economic ties. Mr. Vishnu Prakash said that the trade between the two countries registered a 34 per cent growth in the last year. It has crossed 6.6 billion US dollar mark. He added that a comprehensive free-trade area agreement between the two countries will be concluded soon to give further boost to the bilateral trade.
Talking about infrastructure development, Mr. Prakash said that New Delhi is keen to seek greater investment from that country particularly for better facilities in the Buddhist tourist circuit. Around fifty thousand people from Thailand come annually on this pilgrimage to these places.
The Thai Prime Minister will be on his first visit to India. During his stay in the national capital, he will hold meeting with the captains of the Indian industry and exchange views with the External Affairs Minister Mr. S. M. Krishna and the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. He will also call on the Vice President and the President before leaving back home. The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is organising a banquet in the honour of visiting dignity at the end of the delegation level talks in the evening.