 The member of a post-election cabinet in charge of foreign affairs said he has not scheduled his ASEAN tour as yet but intended to begin with the initial B that is Brunei until the initial V that is Vietnam. Seven other ASEAN states will lie in between.
Meanwhile, Mr Surapong said he has remained undaunted by the Democrat Party's bid to have him impeached on charges of unduly helping former premier Thaksin Shinawatra given entry to Japan. He said he has had a legal team of the ruling Puea Thai Party prepare a legal battle for him.
The opposition party have quoted a high-ranking official of the Japanese government as saying Bangkok had asked Tokyo to allow the former Thai leader to pay a one-week visit to that country.
Mr Surapong contended it was entirely up to the Japanese to decide upon such matters for which , he said, the Puea Thai-led government has adopted no plan and scheme.
Mr Thaksin, currently in Japan until next Monday, earlier announced he had merely intended to visit areas devastated by earthquakes and tsunamis in the Far Eastern island state and crroordinate a relief effort on the part of the Thai government in return for the Japanese aid provided for tsunami victims in southern Thailand several years earlier.
He is reportedly suggesting Japan's manufacturing sector relocate their auto part and electronics industry to Thailand and persuading the Japanese people, especially those affected by the natural disasters, to come and stay in Thailand on a long-term basis. Produced by VoiceTV |
