Thai PM to visit India June 25-27

New Delhi, June 22 (UNI) Thailand Prime Minister Gen Surayad Chulanont will pay a State Visit to India from June 25-27.

He will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nitya Pibulsonggram, Minister of Commerce Krirk-Krai Jirapaet and Minister of Energy Piyasvasti Amranand, the foreign office said today.

During the visit, Gen Chulanont will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and call on President A P J Abdul Kalam on June 26. Dr Singh will host a banquet in his honour on the same day.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani will call on the Thai Prime Minister during his stay in New Delhi. Gen Chulanont will also address a Business Summit hosted by the CII, FICCI and the ASSOCHAM on June 26.

Two important agreements will be signed during his visit - a Memorandum of Understanding on Enhanced Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy and another on the Cultural Programme.

The Thai Prime Minister will visit Varanasi, Sarnath and Kolkata during his Sate Visit to India.

The visit takes place in the 60th anniversary year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Relation between India and Thailand are based on age old historical, civilizational and cultural links and encompass a range of areas including political, defence, security, science and technology and cultural exchanges and ties. Trade between the two countries has surpassed the three billion dollar mark in 2006.

UNI