Aquino to visit Thailand to boost ties, curb drug trafficking

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno S. Aquino will visit Thailand next week where he is set to discuss with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva issues like drug trafficking and agriculture cooperation.

The two leaders will also explore ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in all aspects, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

“The visit aims to further strengthen the Philippines’ deep and strong bilateral relations with Thailand, as well as cooperation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in order to help build a secure and prosperous Asean community by 2015,” the DFA said in a statement.

During the two-day visit on Thursday and Friday, Aquino is also expected to present during his administration’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program to Abhisit and the Thai business groups, the DFA said.

Dating back to 1949, bilateral relations between the Philippines and Thailand are among the most robust and stable in the Asian region.

“The two countries have regular exchanges of high-level government visits, healthy trade and investment environments that have encouraged major Philippine and Thai companies to invest in each other’s countries, and friendly people-to-people interactions that have promoted closer social and cultural understanding between and among their citizens,” the DFA said.

Aquino will also meet the Filipinos in Thailand to thank them for their hard work.