Visiting French PM confirms Europe-ASEAN cooperation

BANGKOK, February 5 (TNA) - Visiting French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has insisted on the importance of cooperation between Europe and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Accompanied by his entourage, including his wife and leading French business persons in the aviation, aerospace, satellite, high-speed rail, energy, banking and financial sectors to mainly explore investment opportunities in Thailand and other ASEAN member countries, the French Prime Minister arrived in Bangkok on Monday night for his two-day official trip at the invitation of his Thai counterpart last July. It is the first official visit to Thailand by a French Prime Minister in 23 years. The French Prime Minister gave a special lecture on relations between Thailand and France and connection between Europe and Asia at Thammasat University on Tuesday morning, during which he said that Thammasat University has had long-standing relationship with France, in which more Thai students are welcome. The French Prime Minister also expressed his hope that Paris and Bangkok will also expand their cooperation on the movie business, in which Thailand has expertise and success. According to the French Prime Minister, mutual help among parties concerned should finally solve the lingering eurozone crisis, suggesting that the concerned parties learn lessons from it and ASEAN member states boost their partnership to prevent such the regional debt crisis. Meanwhile, Thai and French business operators are scheduled to meet at a dinner party at Bangkok's Government House on Tuesday evening. Bilateral trade value between France and Thailand totaled about 4 billion US dollars last year, when French investment in the Thai economy stood at some 372 million US dollars. More Thai business firms are investing in France, including Thai Union Frozen Products, PTT Petrochemical and Double A. (TNA)