Mega-Thaksin talks focus on economic issues<\/p>\n
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP): Indonesian President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri focused on economic issues Friday in talks with the
\nThai prime minister, and was assured that Thailand would not
\nallow \"terrorists\" opposed to Indonesia's government operate from
\nits territory.<\/p>\n
After a four-hour visit to military-run Myanmar, Megawati
\narrived in neighboring Thailand on Friday on the latest leg of
\nher whirlwind tour of nine Southeast Asian countries.<\/p>\n
She was greeted at the Royal Thai Air Force base by Foreign
\nMinister Surakiart Sathirathai as she touched down in her third
\ncountry in a single day.<\/p>\n
Megawati's eight-day tour, her first overseas trip since
\ntaking the presidency of the world's fourth-most populous country
\non July 23, is intended to show that her troubled nation will
\nagain become a prominent force in the region.<\/p>\n
Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in one and a-half-hour
\nof talks late Friday, asked Megawati to consider closer
\ncooperation in several economic sectors, said Yongyuth
\nTiyapairat, the Thai government spokesman.<\/p>\n
He said Thaksin suggested their two countries consider
\nagreements on investment in fish processing.<\/p>\n
Thaksin also assured Megawati that he would not let Thailand
\nbe used as a terrorist base, and would not allow any group to use
\nits land against a neighbor, Yongyuth said.<\/p>\n
Thaksin's assurance was inspired by reports that separatists
\nin the western Indonesian province of Aceh are using southern
\nThailand as a base for weapons and other supplies.<\/p>\n
Thaksin urged Indonesia to stop a price war with Thailand and
\nother regional rubber producers, and cut the present surplus in
\nthe market, which has forced prices down to a 30-year low.<\/p>\n
A proposed rubber price agreement between Thailand, Malaysia
\nand Indonesia - the world's leading rubber exporters - is at the
\ntop of the agenda, Yongyuth said.<\/p>\n
Thaksin turned down Megawati's request to purchase Indonesian
\nplanes for use by the Agriculture Ministry, he said.<\/p>\n
Earlier Friday, Megawati flew from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to
\nYangon where she met with Senior Gen. Than Shwe, chief of the
\nMyanmar regime, and other top generals. No details of the talks
\nwere immediately available.<\/p>\n
The two countries enjoyed close ties during the rule of former
\nIndonesian autocrat Soeharto, a longtime friend of Myanmar
\ndictator Ne Win, who retired in 1988.<\/p>\n
Megawati leaves Thailand on Saturday for Brunei. She will go
\non to visit Singapore and Malaysia.<\/p>\n
In Cambodia earlier Friday, the Indonesian ambassador
\nNazaruddin Nasution told reporters that Prime Minister Hun Sen
\nand Megawati agreed to facilitate direct trade, using shipping
\nlines to carry Indonesian and Cambodian products.<\/p>\n
Telecommunications, logging and garments are among the areas
\nof Cambodia's depressed economy that have attracted Indonesian
\ninvestment in recent years. But Indonesia ranks far down on the
\nlist of countries investing in Cambodia.<\/p>\n
Megawati also made pledges to Cambodian officials that
\nIndonesia will provide military and police training assistance
\nand provide more scholarships for Cambodian students.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-thaksin-talks-focus-on-economic-issues-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}