Thai politics won't affect trade with NZ : FM
Wellington
Trade between Thailand and New Zealand will continue to prosper despite Bangkok's political turbulence, the Thai Foreign Minister told New Zealand's Trade Minister on Thursday.
During an half-an-hour discussion with Trade Minister Phil Goff, Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said the political instability in Thailand was a shortterm matter which would be dealt with in accordance with the country's constitutional framework. "It will not affect the bilateral trade. We strongly encourage the two countries to continue trading with each other," said Kantathi. Thailand and New Zealand signed a Free Trade Agreement on April 19, 2005 and it became effective on July 1, last year. The FTA's first anniversary finds trade between the two countries to have grown by more than 30 per cent, said Kantathi. The two countries also signed a Closer Economic Partnership (CEP) pact in April last year. Kantathi said this had resulted in Thai exports increasing by 50 per cent. Currently, Thailand enjoys a trade surplus of US$269.2 million (Bt10.5 billion). Goff, also the Defence Minister, expressed concern about violence in three provinces in southern Thailand, making a special mention of more than 60 simulŽtaneous bomb blasts last month. Kantathi said the Thai government was trying hard to find a comprehensive solution to promote unity amid diversiŽty. Goff asked Thailand to join countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and Malaysia in sending police to East Timor. Kantathi is on a fourday visit to New Zealand. Today, he will meet the Kiwi Prime Minister, Helen Clark, besides attending a reception celebrating the 50th anniverŽsary of the forging of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Kantathi will fly to the US from New Zealand to meet several prominent politŽical figures, including his counterpart, Condoleezza Rice. by Sopaporn Kruz The Nation
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