Yingluck defends globe-trotting

Yingluck defends globe-trotting

Yingluck Shinawatra has justified her overseas trips amid criticism from the Democrat Party that the prime minister should spend more time in Parliament and less in other countries.


Lt Col Ladda Tammy Duckworth, a Thai-born Democrat representative for Illinois, left, calls on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House on Thursday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

"The visits are aimed at fostering relations (with other countries) and open up trade opportunities,'' Ms Yingluck told Parliament on Thursday.

The prime minister was adamant that the visits would pay off in more foreign investment in the country which was important amid the global economic uncertainty.

Ms Yingluck has gone to about two dozen countries since taking office. Her latest trip was to Tajikistan and Pakistan from Aug 19-21.

Her next scheduled trip is to travel to Nanning in China from Sept 2-3 to attend the China-Asean Expo 2013, government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi said on Thursday.

Ms Yingluck will return to Thailand on Sept 3. While in China, she will meet with Chinese Prime Minister Li Kequiang, who took over the post in March this year.

The opposition party has complained about the absence of the prime minister in parliament including the latest debate on charter changes on the formation of the Senate last week.

After defending her trips in the chamber on Thursday, the prime minister allowed her MP colleagues to leave the session to meet visiting Lt Col Ladda Tammy Duckworth, a Thai-born Democrat representative for the US state of Illinois, at Government House.

Suthep Thaugsuban, a Democrat MP, said Ms Yingluck should be in Parliament to listen to a Democrat debate on the rubber and palm oil price slump.

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