Thai PM to meet Soros

Thai PM to meet Soros

BANGKOK (Reuters): Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai is expected to meet international financier George Soros during a visit to the United States, a local newspaper reported on Saturday.

The Nation newspaper said Chuan was due to meet Soros to exchange views on the Asian economic crisis and to talk about investment opportunities in Thailand.

Citing an "informed source", the Nation said Soros had expressed an appreciation of the Chuan government and said he admired the prime minister.

"He would like to show his support for a democratic Thailand," the source said.

Thai financial officials said late last year they had lobbied Soros to invest in the country, which is suffering its worst economic crisis in decades.

Thai policy towards Soros differs sharply from that of Malaysia, where Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has cast the billionaire financier as the villain in his country's economic troubles.

Chuan will visit the United States on March 12-13, mainly to discuss the country's economic situation.