Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has a busy travel schedule this month with visits to Laos, Indonesia, England and Cambodia to strengthen trade and political relations.
A Lao military officer stands guard outside the National Convention Center, where the ninth Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit will be held on Monday and Tuesday. (EPA Photo)
Discussing her plans on her weekly television show on Saturday, Ms Yingluck said she would be in Vientiane on Monday and Tuesday as Laos hosts the Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) leaders' sunmmit.
She said she would use the meeting to highlight Thailand's economic capabilities, particularly the development of logistics ahead of the formation of the Asean Economic Community in 2015.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the premier will be in Bali, Indonesia to take part in a regional event to promote democratic development.
Later this month, Ms Yingluck will visit England to discuss bilateral cooperation. Representatives of about 50 Thai businesses will accompany the premier on a mission intended to increase British investors' confidence in Thailand and promote tourism between both kingdoms.
Ms Yingluck said she would then visit Cambodia from Nov 17-19 for the 21st Asean Summit with member countries and partners consisting of China, India, Japan, South Korea and the United States.
In preparation for the ASEM summit in Vientiane, the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, will arrive in Thailand on Sunday for his first visit to the country.
Ms Yingluck said the European Union had been placing more importance on Thailand based on her past meetings with the heads of its three main institutions: The Council of Ministers, EU-Asean Relations Commission and the European Commission.
Improved cooperation with the EU, she added, would bring economic benefits to Thailand including more trade and investment.
The premier also used the programme to discuss a new national security plan. The cabinet is expected shortly to review a proposal approved by the National Security Council and conta9ning guidelines on how to safeguard defence and economic security.
Ms Yingluck said she had also asked related agencies to formulate plans to maintain food security and address issues related to stateless people, international crimes and human trafficking.
Discussing the protracted southern unrest, the prime minister stressed that the government would use the existing mechanisms in solving problems.
She also touched on last week's cabinet reshuffle, saying it was intended to regain public confidence by bringing more capable people into the cabinet.
Ms Yingluck also mentioned the government policy to continue supporting the One Tambon One Product (Otop) project as parft of community and economoc development.
She said the state must play a larger role in helping local people develop vocational skills, securing much-needed loans and bringing more modern manufacturing technologies in order to meet the market’s needs.
She cited as an example the use of water hyacinth to produce many products by producers in several provinces including Ayutthaya, Ang Thong and Chainat.