Riyadh: Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Amir Mohammed bin Salman and his team, who arrived in the capital Bangkok on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Thailand, received a warm welcome. Crown Prince held talks with Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha. The two leaders on Friday witnessed the signing of five agreements, including the formation of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council.
The two leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral relations and ways to develop and improve them. The media of both the countries reported that amicable talks were held on several issues of common interest. Thailand’s goal is to become Saudi Arabia’s gateway to the Asian market, Thai media reported, citing top trade sources.
The Crown Prince expressed hope that the agreements signed at the end of the negotiations would benefit the economies of both countries. At the beginning of the discussion, the Crown Prince said that since our first meeting nine months ago, the two countries had agreed to cooperate in many fields and many of them have been fulfilled beyond our expectations. Mohammed bin Salman added that the new understandings will benefit both countries in the fields of energy, tourism, investment, infrastructure development and agriculture.
He indicated that there are possibilities to cooperate with Thailand, which established relations in the middle of the last century, in other fields as well. Congratulating the Saudi ruler Salman bin Abdulaziz King and the people, Ocha emphasized his willingness to strengthen bilateral relations and work closely with the crown prince. The first memorandum of understanding was related to cooperation in the energy sector between the energy ministries of the two countries. Saudi Energy Minister Amir Abdulaziz bin Salman and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supata Pong Ban Misha exchanged it.
Foreign Minister Amir Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramud handed over the Memorandum of Understanding on the formation of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council. MoU for cooperation in the tourism sector was signed by the Saudi Minister of Commerce and Acting Media Minister Dr. Majid Al-Khasabi, Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Phifat Rachakit Prakarn exchanged hands.
Saudi Investment Minister Ng signed a memorandum of understanding in the area of promoting direct investment between the two countries. Khalid Al-Falih handed over to the Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai. The Memorandum of Understanding between the anti-corruption authority ‘Nasaha’ and the Thai National Anti-Corruption Authority was handed over to the President of the Thai Authority Prasar Narajkita by the President of ‘Nasaha’ Masin Al Kahmoos.