Thailand's new PM Sundaravej to visit Indonesia

Desy Nurhayati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 03/25/2008 11:20 AM  |  World

Thailand's new Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is scheduled to make his first visit to Indonesia on Wednesday, Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said Monday.

During the two-day visit, Dino said, the Thai PM would meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday to talk about various bilateral, regional and global issues.

"Among the bilateral issues to be discussed ... are trade and investment, fisheries, energy, tourism and also defense and security," Dino announced at a press conference.

On defense and security issues, he said, Yudhoyono and Sundaravej would explore further ways to cooperate after the two countries agreed last year to establish an Indonesia-Thailand High Level Committee led by Indonesia's military chief and Thailand's Supreme Commander.

Under the scheme, the two countries had established four joint sub-committees comprising joint coordinated operations, joint training and education, joint intelligence and non-military security.

In the energy sector, Dino said, Ministers of Energy and Mineral Resources from both countries signed a joint statement on the establishment of an energy forum in December 2007 in Bangkok. The forum aims to discuss energy policies and promote involvement from the private sector.

"The upcoming meeting will discuss further actions on the joint statement."

On problems relating to the fisheries sector, he said, Yudhoyono and Sundaravej would discuss illegal fishing involving foreign fishermen, including those from Thailand.

"Indonesia no longer applies a system of giving licenses to foreign fishermen, and has implemented a new integrated fishing policy."

He said the new policy allowed foreigners to invest in fishery but obligated them to cooperate with local people, and Indonesia expected Thailand to comply with this policy.

On regional issues, the two leaders would discuss improvements made by ASEAN, as well as Myanmar.

"The President said Indonesia welcomed the victory of Thailand's People's Power Party in the recent general election that brought Sundaravej to presidency," Dino said.

"This indicates the return of a civilian government and the recovery of democracy in the country."

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