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Reuters-Thailand seeks better trade

Subject: Reuters-Thailand seeks better trade access to Japan 

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Thailand seeks better trade access to Japan=20
12:56 a.m. Jan 13, 2000 Eastern=20
BANGKOK, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Thailand hopes to use a visit by Japanese =
Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi to secure better access to Japan for its =
farm products, officials said.=20

Obuchi was due to arrive in Bangkok from Vientiane late on Thursday for =
a two-day stay concluding a tour of Southeast Asia that has taken him to =
Cambodia and Laos.=20

Although Obuchi came to Thailand as foreign minister in 1998, it will be =
the first visit of a Japanese premier since 1993.=20

Thai government spokesman Akapol Sorasuchart told Reuters economic =
recovery in Asia and in Thailand, where the regional economic crisis =
began in 1997, would be key topics of discussion.=20

``Japan has been a major contributor in helping Thailand's recovery =
economically and they will probably be eager to know the progress =
Thailand has made and ways we can cooperate in future.''=20

Akapol said Thailand was a regional base for many Japanese firms and =
Japan a major market for Thai agricultural products.=20

``Opening up of the markets -- increased market share -- will probably =
be the main targets Thailand is aiming for,'' he said.=20

``I think in some areas we are quite hopeful,'' Akapol said, adding that =
these included fruit, rice and rubber.=20

Obuchi was due to have dinner with his counterpart Chuan Leekpai on =
Thursday evening. Chuan held discussions on bilateral trade during a =
visit to Tokyo in October.=20

``VERY FRUITFUL DISCUSSIONS''=20

``If the policy can be set and the representatives can follow up on the =
in-depth discussions in Tokyo,'' Akapol said, ``I think they will prove =
to be very fruitful discussions.''=20

The spokesman said Japan had said it wants to hear Thailand's views as =
current head of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations =
(ASEAN) ahead of a meeting of the group of eight industrial nations =
Japan is due to host this year.=20

Obuchi has said he hopes G8 will give voice to Asian views.=20

``As the head of ASEAN, Thailand would like to hear Japan's view on the =
region also -- whether on the economy or political and other issues,'' =
Akapol said.=20

He said he expected Chuan and Obuchi to hold broad discussions on =
regional security, which could include political problems in =
military-ruled Myanmar, one of the 10 ASEAN members.=20

Chaiwat Kamchoo, head of the foreign relations department at Bangkok's =
Chulalongkorn University, said he expected Japan to use Obuchi's visit =
to seek Thai support for Eisuke Sakakibara's bid to become the next head =
of the International Monetary Fund.=20

Japan is keen to see its former top financial diplomat become the first =
Asian head of the organisation in its history.=20

Obuchi will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Friday. =
Later he will have an audience with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and is =
due to leave Thailand on Saturday morning.=20


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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><FONT color=3D#800000><FONT =
size=3D+1><STRONG>Thailand=20
seeks better trade access to Japan</STRONG></FONT> <BR></FONT>12:56 a.m. =
Jan 13,=20
2000 Eastern=20
<P>BANGKOK, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Thailand hopes to use a visit by Japanese =
Prime=20
Minister Keizo Obuchi to secure better access to Japan for its farm =
products,=20
officials said.=20
<P>Obuchi was due to arrive in Bangkok from Vientiane late on Thursday =
for a=20
two-day stay concluding a tour of Southeast Asia that has taken him to =
Cambodia=20
and Laos.=20
<P>Although Obuchi came to Thailand as foreign minister in 1998, it will =
be the=20
first visit of a Japanese premier since 1993.=20
<P>Thai government spokesman Akapol Sorasuchart told Reuters economic =
recovery=20
in Asia and in Thailand, where the regional economic crisis began in =
1997, would=20
be key topics of discussion.=20
<P>``Japan has been a major contributor in helping Thailand's recovery=20
economically and they will probably be eager to know the progress =
Thailand has=20
made and ways we can cooperate in future.''=20
<P>Akapol said Thailand was a regional base for many Japanese firms and =
Japan a=20
major market for Thai agricultural products.=20
<P>``Opening up of the markets -- increased market share -- will =
probably be the=20
main targets Thailand is aiming for,'' he said.=20
<P>``I think in some areas we are quite hopeful,'' Akapol said, adding =
that=20
these included fruit, rice and rubber.=20
<P>Obuchi was due to have dinner with his counterpart Chuan Leekpai on =
Thursday=20
evening. Chuan held discussions on bilateral trade during a visit to =
Tokyo in=20
October.=20
<P>``VERY FRUITFUL DISCUSSIONS''=20
<P>``If the policy can be set and the representatives can follow up on =
the=20
in-depth discussions in Tokyo,'' Akapol said, ``I think they will prove =
to be=20
very fruitful discussions.''=20
<P>The spokesman said Japan had said it wants to hear Thailand's views =
as=20
current head of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations =
(ASEAN)=20
ahead of a meeting of the group of eight industrial nations Japan is due =
to host=20
this year.=20
<P>Obuchi has said he hopes G8 will give voice to Asian views.=20
<P>``As the head of ASEAN, Thailand would like to hear Japan's view on =
the=20
region also -- whether on the economy or political and other issues,'' =
Akapol=20
said.=20
<P>He said he expected Chuan and Obuchi to hold broad discussions on =
regional=20
security, which could include political problems in military-ruled =
Myanmar, one=20
of the 10 ASEAN members.=20
<P>Chaiwat Kamchoo, head of the foreign relations department at =
Bangkok's=20
Chulalongkorn University, said he expected Japan to use Obuchi's visit =
to seek=20
Thai support for Eisuke Sakakibara's bid to become the next head of the=20
International Monetary Fund.=20
<P>Japan is keen to see its former top financial diplomat become the =
first Asian=20
head of the organisation in its history.=20
<P>Obuchi will hold a news conference at 11 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Friday. =
Later he=20
will have an audience with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and is due to =
leave=20
Thailand on Saturday morning. </P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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