Deuba, Shinawatra discuss bilateral, regional matters

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KATHMANDU, Sept. 2: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba held talks with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of the Kingdom of Thailand over a breakfast at the Royal Thai Government house this morning.

Matters concerning bilateral, regional and international concerns were discussed during the meeting, according to the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Thailand.

Welcoming Prime Minister Deuba, the Thai Prime Minister touched upon the common bonds of culture and tradition between the two kingdoms and asked Nepal to join the Asia Cooperation Dailogue (ACD) established under his keen initiative.

Shinawatra noted that ACD was an effort to forge togetherness among the Asian countries by avoiding unhealthy competition.

He further clarified that ACD was a dialogue process by groups of Asian countries to foster positive thinking and the culture of working together for mutual benefit.

Prime Minister Deuba said that ACD would receive Nepal's support and participation.

Underlining Nepal's strong faith in regional cooperation, Mr. Deuba requested the support of Thailand to provide Nepal full-fledged membership of BIMST-EC.

Shinawarta said that he would support Nepal's desire to join BIMST-EC as a full member.

Currently, Nepal has the status of an observer in BIMST-EC.

Responding to the request made to support Nepal's accession to World Trade Organization (WTO), the Thai Prime Minister said that he would be more than happy to support Nepal in joining the World Trade Body.

Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand is taking over the position of the director general of WTO from September, 2002.

Prime Minister Deuba also informed his counterpart in how Nepal was fighting against terrorism perpetrated by the so-called Maoists and thanked the Thai Government for the moral support provided to Nepal in this fight.

The Thai Prime Minister emphasized the paramount Importance of peace and security for economic development of any country and expressed his desire to give a helping hand for peace and prosperity of Nepal in whatever way possible.

He called for cooperation of Nepal for jointly promoting herbal products and tourism between the two Kingdoms.

Replying to the problems of huge deficit of Nepal in bilateral trade and the citizenship question of people of Nepalese origin living in Thailand for a long time, the Thai Prime Minister asserted that both sides should sit together and sort out these problems in the best interest of both the countries.
On the occasion Prime Minister Deuba extended an invitation to Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra to visit Nepal at a time convenient to both side and Mr. Shinawatra accepted the invitation gladly.
Prime Minister Deuba was accompanied by chief secretary Keshab Raj Rajbhandari, Royal Nepalese Ambassador Janak Bahadur Singh. Chief of protocol Bhagirath Basnet and the counsellor at the Royal Nepalese Embassy while the Thai side comprised Mr. Prommin Lertsuridej, Secretary General to the Prime Minister, Mr. Tej Bunnag, permanent-secretary of Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr. Vongyut Tiyapaitay, government spokesman and Mr. Watana Muangsook, deputy secretary general to the Prime Minister for political affairs.

Prime Minister Deuba also visited Wat Shaket (Buddhist Temple) and met with Somdet Phra, the head monk and several other monks including Nepalese novices studying Buddhism.
On the occasion the Buddhist monks prayed for peace and prosperity of Nepal.

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