Thailand expresses its wish to join CICA

Thailand is going to express its intention to become a full member of the CICA at a ministerial CICA meeting that is due to take place October 22 in Almaty. Surakiart Sathirathai, foreign minister of Thailand, made such statement to journalists yesterday, October 20, at a press conference in Almaty after his meeting with Kassymzhomart Tokayev, foreign minister of RK.

The Thai government is sure, S. Sathirathai observed that "the Asian states although being so different must be united and co-operate." "We believe that peace and co-operation can flourish on international and regional levels," - he said.

S. Sathirathai also observed that both Kazakhstan and Thailand shared a common point of view on a new era of co-operation. Thus, RK became an initiator of the CICA, the Kingdom of Thailand, in its turn, initiated the Asian Co-operation Dialogue. "We support any initiatives, directed at a development of co-operation, an exchange of opinions," - the minister stressed.

Thailand is ready to support an accession of Kazakhstan to the WTO by all means, S. Sathirathai said, adding that "we support the initiative of the president of Kazakhstan to call a congress of world leaders in 2007 and we will send our participants to this conference."

The foreign minister of RK in his turn thanked the Thai foreign minister for a support of Kazakhstan's application to become partner of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).