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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022178

Prayut, Macron pledge to boost economic cooperation

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to expand cooperation between the two countries at a meeting at Government House on Thursday.

Prayut received Macron at the Si Nga Chang Room in the Thai Kufah Building at 11am.

Macron is the first French president to visit Thailand in 16 years.

During the meeting, Prayut expressed admiration for the continued development of bilateral ties between the two nations.

Prayut said he believed Macron’s visit would strengthen ties and cooperation between the two countries, which would lead to tangible results.

The prime minister also thanked the French president for supporting Thailand’s role in hosting the Apec Summit as the kingdom needed support from France as a member of the G7 and the G20.

Macron in turn thanked Prayut for the warm welcome and appreciated the progress in cooperation between the two countries on several projects.

The French president said the cooperation, including the development of the Theos 2 satellite, had continued despite the Covid-19 crisis.

Macros also admired Thailand’s preparations for the Apec Summit and said France supported the summit because it believed in multilateral cooperation in trade and investment, peacekeeping and environment protection.

The two sides also pledged to expand economic cooperation, especially under a Bio-Circular-Green economy.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022176

200-strong search team looks for missing French tourist

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

A large-scale search operation is underway in Surat Thani’s Khao Sok National Park for a French tourist who has been missing since last Saturday.

More than 200 people – about 100 of them abseilers – formed the search team that also included park rangers, police, military officers and rescue workers.
They are focusing on an area on Phanthurat Mountain, where mobile-phone signals of the missing tourist – identified as 34-year-old Gollino Cyrit Tizzlano – were last detected.
At about 10pm on Wednesday, some local residents reported hearing the sound of wood tapping in that area, but a two-hour-long search failed to find the missing tourist.

Before he disappeared, Tizzlano reportedly offered a local 2,000 baht to help him look for his lost drone. However, the local declined the offer because it was getting dark.
The search area is in difficult terrain marked by high limestone cliffs and slippery elevations due to rain.
Tizzlano checked in at Khao Sok Holiday Resort last Friday. The following day, he ventured into the forest alone with his drone after declining the offer of a guided tour.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022174

Small groups defy police ban with sporadic protests on Bangkok streets

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

Despite a police ban on protests near the Apec Summit venue and Government House, small groups of protesters tested police limits on Thursday morning by launching mobile and sporadic protests.

On Thursday morning, the Royal Thai Police reiterated the ban on gathering near Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) and Government House, but to no avail, as protesters threatened to rally there.

Late Thursday morning, a group of demonstrators tried to descend on Asoke Intersection near the QSNCC. They held banners demanding that Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha resign.

The protesters gathered in front of the Terminal 21 shopping mall and attempted to approach Asoke Intersection, clashing with crowd-control police a few times.

Officers promptly seized protest symbols and signs and pushed back the demonstrators towards the shopping mall away from the entrance to MRT’s Sukhumvit subway station.

Police remained stationed at the intersection to prevent the rallyists from advancing on the MRT station and on to the QSNCC.

Meanwhile, at the Lan Khon Muang ground in front of City Hall, a group of so-called “Citizens Stopping Apec 2022” continued their demonstration for a second day. The group organised a seminar at 10am on how Apec governments have “damaged the environment”.

A moment later, a group of 20 protesters rode four pickup trucks to Democracy Monument, which is not far away from Government House.

The demonstrators put up a large cloth banner at the monument. But crowd-control police swooped in immediately and seized the banner. Officers gave the group an ultimatum: return to Lan Khon Muang or face arrest.

Later, at 10.30am, another group of rallyists demonstrated in front of Siam Cement’s headquarters to demand an end to the Apec Summit and call for the abrogation of the Bio-Circular-Green economic policy that the group claimed would benefit only investors.

It also painted protest signs on the road in front of the Siam Cement head office. Police later told them to disperse as they had not received permission to demonstrate there.

Earlier on Thursday, Pol Maj-General Artchayon Kraithong, spokesman of the security and traffic operations command for the summit, told a press conference that security forces would not tolerate protests in front of the QSNCC after threats from a protester group.

Artchayon said the Rassadorn 63 group and 13 networks would hold a “What is happening in Thailand?” protest and try breaking through police barriers to rally in front of the QSNCC.

He said the National Police chief had instructed officers not to tolerate any attempt by protesters to break through the barriers.

Police would also enforce the ban against demonstrations on Bangkok streets near 19 hotels where Apec leaders are staying, the spokesman added.

“If the protesters try to enter prohibited areas, police will have to enforce the law. Police have prepared forces and equipment to control the crowd, but we will use them in accordance with the situation,” Artchayon promised.

“Protesters will not be allowed to enter prohibited areas at all,” he made it clear.

Police will also not allow the demonstrators at Lan Khon Muang to move to Asoke Intersection, Artchayon said.

Officers will not block protesters from other provinces from entering Bangkok, but police will question them about their goals and destinations first as well as check their belongings, Artchayon added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022172

Exat warns it will take action against netizens for incorrect Apec sign, flags

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) has given netizens 24 hours to delete any edited pictures showing incorrect Apec welcome signs and flags before they get sued.

On Saturday, netizens shared the Apec welcome sign with a typo on Chalong Rat Expressway.

The sign said “Welcom to APEC 2022” and also showed flags of G20 member countries instead of Apec.

Exat said several people edited and shared the image, which features Exat’s logo. Whether it was done intentionally or unintentionally, it has caused damage to the department, Exat said.

Therefore, its legal department issued an announcement asking people to delete any fake pictures or messages within 24 hours or they will face legal action.

The department later clarified that it would proceed with legal action only against those “who edited the image with vulgar language or against morality”.

It added that the sign was corrected on Saturday.

Related stories

• Prawit welcomes French president as he arrives at Don Mueang
• Trade, investments in focus as Jurin, Don kick off Apec Ministerial Meeting
• ‘Winning trust and mutual cooperation key to cope with current challenges’

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022169

Trade, investments in focus as Jurin, Don kick off Apec Ministerial Meeting

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

Thailand’s Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai jointly kicked off the 33rd Apec Ministerial Meeting (AMM) on Thursday morning.

The plenary session on “Balanced, Inclusive and Sustainable Growth” was held at Ballroom Hall 1-2 of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre ahead of the Apec Summit on Friday and Saturday.

In his opening speech, Jurin said the meeting would focus on trade and investments and it would allow Apec economic ministers to follow up on the operations of Apec throughout the year.

Jurin said the meeting would also define the direction of Apec to cope with the current global trade situation and the direction would attach importance to all sectors and would promote free trade and investments for open, sustainable, and connected trade and investments.

Jurin told the meeting that the Apec Summit was being held this year under the theme “Open. Connect. Balance.” He said Thailand has operational plans to push economic cooperation under the theme.

For example under the “Open” theme, Thailand would push for open opportunities for trade and investments among Apec members and would propose economic cooperation to establish free trade agreements.

To show Thailand’s seriousness to push for open economic cooperation, Bangkok played a role in supporting a bilateral trade system and the role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) during a meeting in May 2022 and during the WTO ministerial meeting in June 2022 in Switzerland.

Jurin said he hoped that the 33rd AMM would lead to proposals for development of Apec operations.He urged the participants to use the ministerial meeting as a chance to drive for continual operations of Apec this year and in the future.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022164

Prawit welcomes French president as he arrives at Don Mueang

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

French President Emmanuel Macron was welcomed by Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan after his entourage landed at Don Mueang International Airport on Wednesday night.

Macron was accompanied by France’s Foreign Minister and European Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna. The president’s 120-member entourage included reporters.

It is the first time in 16 years that a French president is making an official visit to Thailand.

Macron will be among the special guests to attend the Apec Summit this week.

He was scheduled to meet Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House. Prayut will also host a lunch in the French president’s honour.

After bilateral discussions, the two sides are expected to come out with a joint statement on cooperation, according to a road map for strengthening Thai-French relations.

The 2022-24 road map was signed by the two leaders in Paris on February 22.

It focuses on cooperation in politics, stability, economy, two peoples and global affairs to make the two nations strategic partners.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022160

Chuwit: Big investors should fund World Cup broadcast

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

Former politician and popular massage parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolvisit suggested purchasing the broadcasting rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup with money from “big investors”.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, he mentioned that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission is providing 600 million baht for the purpose, but the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) still needs to raise another 1 billion baht to pay FIFA.

Chuwit said the programme will “return happiness” to Thais after they have “been forced to watch unfunny politics” and with the country having been closed due to Covid-19.

He seemed to joke when he called on “big investors” to help with the remaining 1 billion baht as it “only needed five of them to pay 200 million baht” each because, he claimed, they “used to pay political parties, especially during the big election”.

However, when it came to bringing happiness to Thais, they ignored it, he said.

Chuwit stated that he did not extort money from anyone but has only spoken the truth.

On Wednesday, SAT invited related sectors to discuss financing and broadcasting of the World Cup.

Read More

Related Stories

• Thailand may not get Fifa World Cup broadcast rights, SAT warns
• Thai govt mulls THB600m loan to buy Fifa World Cup broadcast rights
• Thailand to rethink ‘must have’ rule after World Cup broadcast chaos

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022159

Avoid Bangkok-Chonburi Motorway until Friday, police advise

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

The Highway Police on Wednesday advised motorists to avoid the Bangkok-Chonburi Motorway until Friday (November 18), as a part of the highway will be closed to facilitate the travel of participants of the 2022 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit and related meetings, which are being held in Bangkok this week.

The police said a section of Highway 7, also known as the Bangkok-Chonburi Motorway, from Srinagarindra Intersection (heading to Sirat Expressway) to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli District, will be closed intermittently from November 16 to 18.

Motorists have therefore been advised to avoid the route and plan their trip ahead, as well as spare some extra time if they have to take a detour.

Related Stories

Roads to avoid from Nov 16-19 during Apec Summit

Ratchadapisek Road to be closed to traffic for Apec Summit

14 Bangkok bus routes diverted to avoid Apec road closures

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022156

Police officer slightly injured in blast near Pattani school

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

A police officer sustained a minor injury in an explosion near a school in Pattani province on Wednesday night.

At 8.30pm, Panare station police were alerted to the explosion at a junction in front of Ban Kha To school in Panare district.

A police officer who was patrolling the area, Sergeant Anucha Yamasa, reportedly sustained a minor injury on his leg from the blast and was taken to Panare hospital.

Officials are gathering evidence to track down the group responsible for the attack.

Separately, police at Rueso Station in Narathiwat province on Wednesday evening were called to investigate an explosion at a security checkpoint at Ban Rueso Market.

A preliminary investigation found an exploded pipe bomb. There were no reports of any deaths or injuries.

At around 6.25pm, while officers were canvassing the scene, an unknown number of insurgents threw a pipe bomb at the team, prompting them to return fire and sending the insurgents fleeing. There were no reports of any injuries.

A security officer believed the series of attacks are an attempt to discredit the government during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Bangkok this week.

Earlier on Tuesday night, four insurgents carried out two bomb attacks at two petrol stations in Pattani, prompting Army Area 4 to launch a manhunt.

The almost simultaneous attacks occurred at about 8pm at a PTT station on Highway 42 near the Pattani bus terminal in Tambon Bana, Muang district, and a PT station on the same highway in Tambon Piya Murang in Yaring district. The blast at the PT station slightly injured a worker.

Related Stories

Blasts at Pattani petrol stations made to discredit govt: Army Area 4

Five rangers injured in Pattani bomb attack

Deep South provinces hit by series of attacks; 7-Elevens shut down in Yala, Pattani

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022152

Thailand, Vietnam mark 10 yrs of strategic partnership as President Phuc meets Prayut

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022

Thailand and Vietnam are celebrating ten years of strategic partnership, aiming to strengthen relations for peace, stability and mutual prosperity, the Foreign Ministry said.

At the invitation of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse Tran Nguyet Thu met Prayut at Government House on Wednesday prior to attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok.

As the first official visit to Thailand by a Vietnamese leader in 24 years, the meeting “marked a historic milestone in the ever-closer relations between the two countries”.

President Phuc attended a welcome ceremony, a bilateral meeting with Prayut and a dinner hosted by the prime minister at Government House.

During his stay in Thailand, Phuc also has other engagements with Thailand’s leaders and business circles of the two countries.

The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest in an atmosphere of trust, sincerity and cordiality, according to Thailand’s Foreign Ministry.

Taking into account adverse impacts on developing countries from ongoing geopolitical challenges, both leaders expressed their determination to strengthen Thai-Vietnamese relations in all areas, including security, trade, investment, sustainable development and people-to-people ties in order to reduce impacts from such external factors.

As two major economies of Southeast Asia with immense potential, Thailand and Vietnam will also synergise their strengths and economic cooperation to achieve a strong, sustainable, resilient recovery from the Covid-19 situation in both countries, the ministry said.

Such efforts will accelerate economic integration of the broader Mekong Sub-region and propel growth and development of this region at the heart of East Asia.

As two active and constructive players in regional and international affairs, Thailand and Vietnam agreed to enhance coordination and partnership to promote peace, stability and development in the Mekong, Asean and the broader region.

The two leaders were pleased that both countries have continued to maintain regular consultations and visits at all levels to move forward bilateral cooperation, despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic in the past few years.

They noted in particular the successful convening of the 4th Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation in 2021, the 4th Joint Trade Committee in 2022, and the 2nd Thailand-Vietnam Energy Forum in 2022 in Thailand.

Both leaders were pleased with the “robust developments” and “upward trajectory” of Thai-Vietnamese relations and welcomed the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of strategic partnership between the two countries in 2023, the ministry said.

The two leaders expressed confidence in the great potential for further development of this partnership and agreed to open a new chapter for peace, stability and mutual prosperity. In this context, the two leaders witnessed the signing of the Plan of Action on Implementing the Thailand-Vietnam Strengthened Strategic Partnership 2022-2027, which will guide the strategic partnership between the two countries into the next decade.

The full joint statement and details of documents signed by the two leaders during the official visit can be viewed here.

Photo provided by the Government House.

Related Stories

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