Chirac visit ‘historic’: PM
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday described the state visit of French President Jacques Chirac, who arrives today, as “historic” and one that will boost bilateral ties between the two counties.
A wide range of issues is expected to be discussed, said Thaksin, pointing to more investment by French companies, particularly in the automotive sector. Chirac’s visit to Thailand is the first ever by a French head of state, cementing more than 300 years of relations. Thaksin has twice made official visits to Paris – in May 2003 and October 2005 – and has met Chirac on the sidelines of multilateral meetings. Thaksin said he would also ask Chirac to support Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai’s bid to succeed UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who is due to step down later this year. Paris’s support is crucial because France, as one of the five members of the UN Security Council, has the power to veto any candidate. Accompanying Chirac will be about 30 business leaders, keen to help expand bilateral trade which grew 37 per cent year-on-year to ¤2.8 billion (Bt130.9 billion) in 2005. Thaksin is expected to urge French companies to bid for contracts in Thailand’s US$44-billion (Bt1.73 trillion) public works programme – especially in the areas of mass transit, water and defence. Last year was a difficult one for Thailand, due to the unrest in the South, a decline in tourism after the tsunami and avian flu, said Thaksin. However, the country should still be able to achieve economic growth in 2006 of “5 per cent at least”. Thaksin also said he wants to see Thailand become a hub for French companies, to produce and re-export to other countries. He pointed to the fact that Thailand has bilateral and multilateral free-trade agreements with several countries, especially in Asia, including China. On his arrival this afternoon, Chirac will be presented with the Key to the City by Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin at the Maha Jesadabodin Pavilion. The French leader and his wife will later attend a state banquet hosted by Their Majesties the King and the Queen at Chakrima-haprasart Throne Hall. Tomorrow morning Chirac is scheduled to attend a Cabinet meeting with his Thai counterparts, before having lunch with French businessmen hosted by the French-Thai Chamber of Commerce and holding a press conference. Chirac will fly out of Thailand at about noon on Sunday.
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