thailand china 12av2

HAI PM'S VISIT TO CHINA WILL FACILITATE FTA ESTABLISHMENT, SAYS THAI COMMERCE MINISTER[ti]

   Bangkok, Apr. 11 (VNA) -- A visit by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra-led delegation to China during April 11-12 would pave the way for the two countries to establish a free trade area without any problem, said Thai Commerce Minister Adisai Bodharamik on April 10.
   Adisai was quoted by the Thai News Agency (TNA) on Thursday as saying that he and Karun Kittisathporn, the ministry's permanent secretary, would join the delegation to attend Boao Forum for Asia to be held in Hainan Province of China.
   Adisai noted that the Thai government was attempting to negotiate with the Chinese counterpart for more imports of rice and other products from Thailand through provinces in the south of China.
   He said the discussion on the planned establishment of the Sino-Thai and Sino-ASEAN free trade areas would be finalized in the near future.
   It was expected the Sino-Thai free trade area would be established first because it involved only two countries.--VNA