Bangkok: South Korean President Lee Chae Myong extended his congratulations to Thailand's Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Anutin Charnvirakul, on his recent assumption of office. The congratulatory message was conveyed during a telephone conversation held while President Lee was on an official visit to Laos. The South Korean leader lauded Thailand's economic potential and expressed optimism about the increasing investments from Korean investors in Thailand.
According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister Anutin expressed his gratitude for the congratulatory message and confirmed his participation in the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. He highlighted the longstanding friendship between Thailand and South Korea, dating back over 70 years since the Korean War. Anutin plans to use his upcoming visit to South Korea for the APEC meeting as an opportunity to strengthen these ties.
President Lee acknowledged the historical sacrifices made by Thai soldiers during the Korean War and expressed appreciation for Thailand's participation in the APEC meeting hosted by South Korea. He commended the ongoing cooperation between the two nations in the fields of economics, trade, tourism, and people-to-people relations.
Prime Minister Anutin underscored Thailand's strategic importance in fostering cooperation with South Korea. He expressed an ambitious goal of reaching a bilateral trade and investment value of US$30 billion, doubling the current US$15 billion. Anutin urged for the swift conclusion of FTA negotiations to further boost trade and investment, and highlighted areas for collaboration such as clean energy, digital technology, and the creative economy.
Welcoming the surge in South Korean investments over the past year, Anutin cited significant projects by companies like Hyundai, COSMAX, and LH, which are establishing the first Korean industrial estate in Thailand. He assured full support for South Korean investors and encouraged them to communicate any restrictions they encounter.
The South Korean President noted the growing interest of Korean businesses in investing in Thailand. The leaders also discussed regional cooperation, with Thailand endorsing South Korea's role in ASEAN and acknowledging its position as the current coordinator for ASEAN-South Korea relations.
President Lee expressed gratitude for Thailand's assistance to South Koreans defrauded in Myanmar, while Prime Minister Anutin reaffirmed Thailand's commitment to combating scammers.
The conversation concluded with mutual invitations to visit each other's countries and a shared enjoyment of Thai and Korean cuisine, reflecting the cultural affinity between the two nations. Both leaders look forward to meeting at upcoming international summits, reinforcing the warm and friendly relations between Thailand and South Korea.