British foreign office minister to attend Strategic Dialogue meeting next week
The UK's Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire will be in Bangkok on Sunday for a three-day official visit during which he will participate in the Thai-UK Strategic Dialogue.
The dialogue, which was set up by the Thai and British prime ministers last November, is a mechanism for high-level bilateral discussion to follow up and set the directions of mutual cooperation in various dimensions in the future.
This is Swire’s first visit to Thailand. “Thailand is a natural partner for the UK. We have great relations that go back more than 400 years. Thailand has vast potential to advance prosperity in the Southeast Asia region. The UK has plenty more to offer, as we are the benchmark for excellence in the sectors most in demand for fast growing economies: financial services, education, large scale infrastructure and more,” he said in a statement issued by British Embassy in Bangkok.
During the visit, he will meet Jullapong Nonsrichai, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the inaugural session of the Thailand-UK Strategic Dialogue.
Swire will also meet Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittirat Na Ranong, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva. The Minister will also hold meetings with representatives of leading British companies in Thailand to discuss further trade and investment opportunities. He will also look at issues affecting British tourists and residents in Thailand including road safety.
