India, Thailand to sign two agreements tomorrow

New Delhi, June 25 (UNI) Thai Prime Minister Surayad Chulanont arrived here this evening on a three-day state visit for talks with the Indian leadership that would result in the signing of two important agreements -- an MoU for enhanced cooperation in the field of renewable energy and another on culture.

Gen Chulanont, who is accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram, Commerce Minister Krirk-Krai Jirapaet and Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand, will have most of his official engagments tomorrow.

He will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which will be followed by a banquet hosted in his honour by Dr Singh.

The General will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam.

Among those who will call on him are External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, New and Renewable Energy Minister Vilas Muttemwar and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani.

The General will address a Business Summit hosted by the CII, FICCI and the ASSOCHAM tomorrow.

Gen Chulanont will also visit Varanasi, Sarnath and Kolkata.

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

Relations 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 culture. Trade between the two countries had surpassed the three billion dollar mark in 2006.

UNI