Royal Thai Government : PM meets with UK Ambassador to Thailand

H.E. Brian John Davidson, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Thailand, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha on the occasion of his assumption of the position.

January 19, 2017, at 1030hrs, at the Ivory Room, Thai Khu Fah Building, Government House, H.E. Brian John Davidson, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Thailand, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan -o-cha on the occasion of his assumption of the position.

Lt. Gen. Werachon Sukondhapatipak, Deputy Government Spokesperson, disclosed gist of the meeting as follows:

The Prime Minister expressed pleasure to meet with the Ambassador, and thanked United Kingdom for a statement of condolences over the passing of His Majesty late King Bhumibol. The UK Ambassador emphasized long-standing and cordial relations between Thailand and UK at all levels from the royal families to people-to-people interactions. He hoped to further strengthen the relations and seek new opportunities for mutual cooperation.

The Prime Minister also thanked UK for its concern on Thailand's political situation, and stated that the country is being steered toward complete democracy. He called on UK to support Thailand's democratic development process on which the Ambassador expressed understanding. He also appreciated the Thai Government's intent to move the country forward according to the Roadmap, through reform in various aspects, in a bid to lay foundation for sustainable democracy.

The Prime Minister was also pleased to learn that UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Alok Sharma is scheduled to visit Thailand next week (January 26-28, 2017), and hoped to welcome him again later in the year at the 3rd Thailand-UK Strategic Dialogue, to be hosted by Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where diversified issues of mutual cooperation will be discussed.

Both parties also congratulated success of first meeting of the Thai-UK Business Leadership Council (TUBLC), which has set a good example on public-private cooperation that will further lead to more trade and investment cooperation. The Prime Minister called for the Ambassador to join hands in boosting mutual cooperation in a tangible manner.

With regard to economic cooperation, the Prime Minister reiterated strategic partnership between Thailand and UK, especially after the Brexit. UK Ambassador agreed to encourage more UK investors to make investment in Thailand in accordance with the Government's New S-Curve and Thailand 4.0 policies.

The Prime Minister also thanked UK for prioritizing educational cooperation with Thailand, and hoped that more UK schools and universities would be opened in the country. He would be pleased for UK to take an important role in English language education promotion, and technology transfer in telecommunication to support Thailand's 'Smart City' development project.

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