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Thailand
seeks better trade access to Japan
12:56 a.m. Jan 13, 2000 Eastern 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. 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. Although Obuchi came to Thailand as foreign minister in 1998, it will be the first visit of a Japanese premier since 1993. 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. ``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.'' Akapol said Thailand was a regional base for many Japanese firms and Japan a major market for Thai agricultural products. ``Opening up of the markets -- increased market share -- will probably be the main targets Thailand is aiming for,'' he said. ``I think in some areas we are quite hopeful,'' Akapol said, adding that these included fruit, rice and rubber. 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. ``VERY FRUITFUL DISCUSSIONS'' ``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.'' 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. Obuchi has said he hopes G8 will give voice to Asian views. ``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. 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. 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. Japan is keen to see its former top financial diplomat become the first Asian head of the organisation in its history. 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. |