Thai PM Prayut in PH for 2nd time for Apec meet

Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha marks his second visit to the Philippines as he attends the high-level Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ Meeting along with other leaders of 21 member economies.

Prayut  arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 at 7:10 p.m.

The Thai prime minister visited the Philippines for the first time in a two-day state visit last August.

Prayut had a bilateral meeting with President Benigno Aquino III where they tackled issues on security, trade, and tourism.

He has been in office since August last year.

Prayut, a former commander in chief of the Royal Thai Army, took over the reins of the Thai government after leading a coup against the government of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in May 2014.

He was then subsequently chosen by the military junta-led national legislature.

Thailand is Philippines’ eighth largest trading partner of the Philippines, having a two-way trade totaling $5.83 billion in 2014.