TMCnet News
Thai premier to embark Monday on 5-nation tour including Japan+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)BANGKOK, April 23_(Kyodo) _ Outgoing Thai Prime Minster Thaksin Shinawatra said Sunday he will leave Monday on a trip to five countries -- Britain, France, Russia, Japan and China -- to brief leaders in the countries on the current political situation in Thailand. Thaksin, who announced after declaring victory in the April 2 snap elections that he would not seek another term, told reporters that the trip is "private" and he would meet leaders he regards as "friends." Thaksin said he will leave Bangkok for London early Monday morning. He will return to Bangkok next Saturday from Beijing and then go to the Philippines the following day to meet with leaders there. In Japan, Thaksin is expected to talk with Japanese leaders about the signing of a bilateral free-trade agreement, which has been postponed after the political crisis in Thailand. Thai media have reported that Thailand hopes to be able to sign the FTA with Japan by July. |