PM sells Kazakhstan on 'gateway to Asean'
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul highlighted Thailand's role as a gateway to the Asean market during bilateral talks with Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the sidelines of his visit to Shanghai.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul highlighted Thailand's role as a gateway to the Asean market during bilateral talks with Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the sidelines of his visit to Shanghai.
The meeting took place on Friday at the Shanghai World Reception Hall in Shanghai, according to government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek.
Mr Anutin thanked President Tokayev for inviting him to pay an official visit to Kazakhstan in 2027, when the two countries will mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He also invited the Kazakh leader to visit Thailand.
Both sides welcomed continued exchanges between government agencies and the private sector to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Describing Kazakhstan as Thailand's largest trading partner in Central Asia, Mr Anutin said Thailand was ready to serve as a gateway to the Asean market.
The two leaders agreed to expand cooperation in sectors including wellness tourism, healthcare, food security, hospitality, artificial intelligence, energy and critical rare earth minerals, and to maintain close discussions on these areas.
The prime minister also thanked Kazakhstan for supporting Thailand's proposal to negotiate a free trade agreement between Thailand and the Eurasian Economic Union, saying it would create new opportunities for trade, investment and economic growth.
Mr Anutin praised Kazakhstan's development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, saying it would strengthen regional connectivity and reinforce the country's role as a gateway to Central Asia and Europe.
The two countries also agreed to support additional air routes to boost tourism and people-to-people exchanges. They reaffirmed their commitment to an open multilateral framework, international rules and cooperation on global issues, including climate change, natural resource conservation and water resource management, while Thailand expressed support for Kazakhstan's greater role in Asean.
Subscribe to our newsletters for daily updates, breaking news and exclusive content.