http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/singapore-happy-thailand-stable-pm
Singapore happy that Thailand is stable: PM
Charissa YongThe Straits TimesSaturday, Jun 13, 2015
20150612_PrayutLeeHsienLoong_ST.jpg
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha (left) and PM Lee Hsien Loong at a joint press conference yesterday after agreements were signed to cooperate in areas such as cruise tourism and to boost business ties.
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SINGAPORE is happy to see Thailand stable and progressing, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday, as the two sides signed four agreements to promote trade and investment in areas such as cruise tourism and creative media.
"The (Thai) Prime Minister briefed me just now on the steps he's taking within Thailand and the steps forward for Thailand in his road map," Mr Lee said on the first day of General Prayut Chan- o-cha's two-day visit here.
"We stand by the people of Thailand and we will be happy to see Thailand succeed," he added.
Gen Prayut, who led a coup in May last year, confirmed last month that Thailand's elections would be pushed back to September next year, to give the government time to prepare a referendum on a controversial draft Constitution.
In remarks translated into English, he thanked Mr Lee and the Singapore Government for "their understanding of the political situation in Thailand".
"Thailand has now returned to order and stability," said Gen Prayut, who met Mr Lee for the Singapore-Thailand Leaders' Retreat. This would contribute to the overall stability and security of ASEAN, and to Singapore-Thailand ties, he added.
Both leaders encouraged Singapore businesses to explore the opportunities Thailand has to offer.
"I have invited the private sector of Singapore to invest in designated special economic zones along the border areas between Thailand and neighbouring countries, as well as in infrastructure projects on transport and logistics of the country," said Gen Prayut, who will meet local business leaders over lunch today. Singapore has been Thailand's second-largest investor in the past few years and was its top investor from ASEAN in 2013, noted Mr Lee.
Earlier in the afternoon, the two leaders witnessed the inking of memoranda of understanding to co-operate in cruise tourism and creative media, avoid double taxation and boost business ties.
In particular, the cruise tourism agreement aims to boost co-operation and speed up the development of cruises between Singapore and Thailand, to tap the popularity of cruises in South-east Asia.
At the retreat, the leaders noted cyber security and counter-terrorism were two challenges facing the region, and stressed the importance of both countries cooperating to tackle them, said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement. They also reaffirmed their countries' commitment to bring about the ASEAN Economic Community by the year end.
Gen Prayut also paid a courtesy call on President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Istana.
At a dinner Mr Lee hosted at the Istana, the PM reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between Singapore and Thailand, which was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the Republic 50 years ago.
Gen Prayut said that later this year, Thailand will host the Civil Service Exchange Programme and the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Economic Relationship Ministerial Meeting.
The countries' good ties also extend to their people, said Mr Lee, with 800,000 Singaporeans visiting Thailand and 500,000 Thais coming here every year. Both countries are highly connected, with low-cost carriers offering direct flights to six Thai cities, he said.
"When I have a chance, I'm looking forward to trying one of these low-cost carriers to Krabi, or maybe I will take a cruise with my wife from Singapore to Thailand," Mr Lee added with a smile.
The prime ministers congratulated each other's countries on their showing at the SEA Games.
Today, Gen Prayut will watch the sepak takraw men's finals between Thailand and Myanmar, and visit the Marina Bay Cruise Centre.
[email protected]
Singapore happy that Thailand is stable: PM
Charissa YongThe Straits TimesSaturday, Jun 13, 2015
20150612_PrayutLeeHsienLoong_ST.jpg
Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha (left) and PM Lee Hsien Loong at a joint press conference yesterday after agreements were signed to cooperate in areas such as cruise tourism and to boost business ties.
*0 *1 *0
0
0
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SINGAPORE is happy to see Thailand stable and progressing, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday, as the two sides signed four agreements to promote trade and investment in areas such as cruise tourism and creative media.
"The (Thai) Prime Minister briefed me just now on the steps he's taking within Thailand and the steps forward for Thailand in his road map," Mr Lee said on the first day of General Prayut Chan- o-cha's two-day visit here.
"We stand by the people of Thailand and we will be happy to see Thailand succeed," he added.
Gen Prayut, who led a coup in May last year, confirmed last month that Thailand's elections would be pushed back to September next year, to give the government time to prepare a referendum on a controversial draft Constitution.
In remarks translated into English, he thanked Mr Lee and the Singapore Government for "their understanding of the political situation in Thailand".
"Thailand has now returned to order and stability," said Gen Prayut, who met Mr Lee for the Singapore-Thailand Leaders' Retreat. This would contribute to the overall stability and security of ASEAN, and to Singapore-Thailand ties, he added.
Both leaders encouraged Singapore businesses to explore the opportunities Thailand has to offer.
"I have invited the private sector of Singapore to invest in designated special economic zones along the border areas between Thailand and neighbouring countries, as well as in infrastructure projects on transport and logistics of the country," said Gen Prayut, who will meet local business leaders over lunch today. Singapore has been Thailand's second-largest investor in the past few years and was its top investor from ASEAN in 2013, noted Mr Lee.
Earlier in the afternoon, the two leaders witnessed the inking of memoranda of understanding to co-operate in cruise tourism and creative media, avoid double taxation and boost business ties.
In particular, the cruise tourism agreement aims to boost co-operation and speed up the development of cruises between Singapore and Thailand, to tap the popularity of cruises in South-east Asia.
At the retreat, the leaders noted cyber security and counter-terrorism were two challenges facing the region, and stressed the importance of both countries cooperating to tackle them, said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement. They also reaffirmed their countries' commitment to bring about the ASEAN Economic Community by the year end.
Gen Prayut also paid a courtesy call on President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Istana.
At a dinner Mr Lee hosted at the Istana, the PM reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between Singapore and Thailand, which was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the Republic 50 years ago.
Gen Prayut said that later this year, Thailand will host the Civil Service Exchange Programme and the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Economic Relationship Ministerial Meeting.
The countries' good ties also extend to their people, said Mr Lee, with 800,000 Singaporeans visiting Thailand and 500,000 Thais coming here every year. Both countries are highly connected, with low-cost carriers offering direct flights to six Thai cities, he said.
"When I have a chance, I'm looking forward to trying one of these low-cost carriers to Krabi, or maybe I will take a cruise with my wife from Singapore to Thailand," Mr Lee added with a smile.
The prime ministers congratulated each other's countries on their showing at the SEA Games.
Today, Gen Prayut will watch the sepak takraw men's finals between Thailand and Myanmar, and visit the Marina Bay Cruise Centre.
[email protected]
