His Majesty welcomes Thai PM
By Khairunnisa Ibrahim

Bandar Seri Begawan - Thailand's Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanont called on His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday during' a one-day working visit to the Sultanate.

The premier was received by His Majesty at Istana Nurul Iman, where the two leaders held a closed meeting to discuss various matters of importance.

Also present to welcome the distinguished visitor and his contingent were His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Her Royal Highness Princess Masna, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Thai premier was in Brunei as part of a protocol tour of the Asean region. It is a tradition for new Southeast Asian leaders to visit their Asean counterparts to emphasise the importance of the regional grouping.

Brunei is the seventh nation to be visited by the head of Thailand's interim government. Following the courtesy call at the palace, General Surayud departed for Singapore.The Thai Ambassador to Brunei

Darussalam, Sornsilp Polteja, said the prime minister explained the real situation in Thailand' and revealed facts about the bloodless' coup d'etat that took place on September 19, which ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

General Surayud also touched on problems in southern Thailand and discuss his efforts to resolve them peacefully and without force. The premier's visit to Brunei was intended to further strengthen the strategic partnership and relations between the two countries, the ambassador said. He added that the visit also reflected Prime Minister Surayud's policy to emphasise and strengthen relations and cooperation within the Asean region.

"The Prime Minister attaches great importance to Thailand's relations with its Asean neighbours, and the visit demonstrates his commitment to focusing on forming and strengthening cooperation," said Sornsilp.

The two leaders first met during the China-Asean summit in Nanning, China, where they held informal discussions on Thailand's plans to put an end to the violence in southern Thailand through peaceful means.

The 31-member delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Pridiyathorn Devakula, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nitya Pibulsonggram and Minister of Labour Apai Chandanachulaka. The 63-year old General Surayud is a former Thai army commander-in-chief, who was appointed as interim prime minister on October 1 by the military junta that overthrew Thaksin.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1983, Thailand and Brunei have deepened their bilateral ties and expanded cooperation in various areas, including trade and investment, services, education, defence and agriculture. Such close relations are not limited at the government level and have induced greater understanding, networking and awareness among the people of both nations. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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