BANGKOK, April 6. /TASS/. Thailand wants to develop cooperation with Russia in trade, energy and tourism, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said in an exclusive interview with TASS first deputy director general Mikhail Gusman dedicated to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s upcoming visit to Bangkok on April 7-8.
Chan-o-cha said considers the meeting with Medvedev "very important" and feels "a little nervous" ahead of the Russian prime minister’s visit. "I am waiting for a meeting with the Russian prime minister as with a friend whom I made friends with in Myanmar," the politician noted. Chan-o-cha and Medvedev met at the East Asia Summit in 2014 in Naypyidaw.
The talks in Bangkok will be devoted to "a wide range of issues," Chan-o-cha said. He expressed hope for expanding trade relations with Russia, as Thailand is the largest rice producer in the world and one of the largest seafood exporters. "In talks with the Russian prime minister, I hope to reach such agreements that may be implemented right away, without delay," he said.
Thailand intends to improve the quality of products exported to Russia and attract investment from Moscow. "Fishing industry is a very important topic. We have fishing vessels, a lot of them, but they are obsolete. We can establish joint enterprises [with Russia], modernize our vessels and simultaneously use yours, catching fish together," Chan-o-cha said.
The prime minister said he would also like to discuss cooperation in the financial sphere with Medvedev. "Many countries participate in our financial sector. I want Russia to take part, too," he stressed.
Issues of cooperation in the oil and gas sphere will also be high on the agenda. "Despite long distance that separates us [with Russia], we need to think about ways to cooperate on mutually beneficial conditions," Chan-o-cha said.
Tourism will also be discussed at the meeting between the prime ministers. "We will set up a Thai-Russian center for tourism development. A document for this is ready," Chan-o-cha noted.