Thai new PM says visit to Laos satisfactory

Thailand's new Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on Saturday expressed satisfaction with his official visit to Laos, where he affirmed bilateral cooperation to continue future understanding and good ties, reported Thai News Agency.

This is Surayud's first trip abroad since taking office early this month following the bloodless Sept. 19 coup d'etat that toppled then PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Speaking to journalists after returning from his one-day trip to Thailand's closest neighbor Saturday evening, Surayud said he was greeted with a warm welcome from his Lao counterpart Bouasone Bouphavanh.

The Thai premier said he had explained to the Lao PM the main issues facing Thailand and the interim government's approach to deal with those pressing issues, including political problems, unrest in the country's deep south and severe flooding currently affecting more than 40 provinces.

"The latest political change in Thailand differed from the past as there was not one political refugee, thanks to the friendly approach to handling the problem rather than the use of force," Surayud told his Lao counterpart, according to the report.

He also affirmed that Thailand's projects with Laos will be further implemented without any disruption. He pledged to the best of his ability to ensure that commitments within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) framework will be honored, as well as other mutual concerns such as the Hmong refugee population living in Thailand, narcotics control, and cooperation on fighting bird flu.

Surayud is scheduled to pay a one-day official visit to Cambodia on Sunday at invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Source: Xinhua