Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will join leaders of Asean and South Korea to discuss ways to develop future cooperation at the Asean-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan.
Prayut: Heads to Busan, China
Gen Prayut told reporters yesterday the summit, to be held tomorrow and Friday, will focus on strengthening relations between Asean and South Korea.
He declined to say whether water-management scheme contracts won by Korea would be discussed at the meeting.
The Foreign Ministry said Gen Prayut will attend the Asean-ROK Commemorative Summit to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Asean-ROK dialogue relations.
The meeting will focus on charting the future direction of cooperation, as well as exchanging views on regional and international issues, such as non-traditional security issues, climate change and disaster management.
Gen Prayut will also participate in the Asean-ROK CEO Summit as a special speaker and will address economic trends, including the role of Asia in driving global growth and cooperation.
Thailand's economic policy and measures will also be highlighted.
After the South Korea trip, Gen Prayut will pay an official visit to China on Dec 22-23 after an invitation by Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
Several bilateral issues will be discussed during the two-day trip.
Mr Li, who will attend the 5th Greater Mekong Sub-Region Summit on Dec 19-20, will join Gen Prayut in witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding on railway cooperation.
The deal, which paves the way for construction of high-speed rail tracks for trains travelling at 180kph, will be signed by Transport Minister Prajin Juntong and the chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, Xu Shaoshi.
Gen Prayut said yesterday the railway project will develop regional connectivity.
A joint committee will be set up in 2015 to study details of the project before construction starts in early 2016, the premier added.
China will provide a loan for the railway project. Gen Prayut said the loan is not related to the government-to-government deal on rice and rubber exports.
"The value of agricultural items does not compare with the cost of railway projects," he said.