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**tretcheenia** · 09-21-2012, 10:13 AM

Chiang Mai gets a French sister
Bangkok Post 18/2/06

Chiang Mai (TNA) - Thailand's northern resort city of Chiang Mai and France's southwestern resort city of Leon have agreed to become sister cities.

The two cities are scheduled to officially sign the agreement in Chiang Mai on Saturday, witnessed by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and visiting French President Jacques Chirac.

Vice Chairman of the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce Somsak Vanichkhachorn told TNA on Friday that he would also attend the signing ceremony of the accord, aimed mainly at forging close trade and investment ties and cooperation between the two cities.

The Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce and its counterpart in Leon had also agreed to become comrades' chambers, with the agreement to be signed at Saturday's ceremony as well, Mr. Somsak noted.

"The accord between the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce and its counterpart in Leon is believed to pave the way for expanding trade and investment between Thailand's northern Lanna cluster of provinces and Leon, which is a business and tourism centre in Europe," he said.

The country's northern Lanna cluster of provinces include Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Phrae and Nan.

"The accord is expected to particularly benefit local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as producers of community-based products under the government-supported One Tambon, One Product (OTOP) scheme," Mr. Somsak said.

President Chirac and his wife, Madame Bernadette Chirac, are paying a state visit to Thailand as the guests of Their Majesties the King and Queen, scheculed for February 17-19.

Their Majesties the King and Queen received the French president and his wife at the Royal Thai Air Force's Airport in Bangkok Friday afternoon.

The visit, the first-ever for France's head of state since the Ayutthaya period, is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and members of the Thai cabinet are also scheduled to hold a plenary meeting with the French president and his entourage, including French foreign, finance and industry, external trade, defence and tourism ministers.

The two sides will discuss a joint French-Thai action plan, proposed by the Thai government, covering bilateral cooperation in science and technology, tourism, as well as fashion businesses, including a plan to set up Thailand Fashion House in Paris.

The two governments will also discuss a bilateral cooperation in extending financial support to Thailand's neighbouring countries.

The Thai government will invite French business persons to invest in Thailand's mega-development projects as well.

The Thai and French governments will then sign bilateral agreements in postal services, as well as information and communication technology (ICT)
and science and technology.

The two countries' private sector will also sign their business pacts, including those between Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) and Bangkok Airways and France-based Airbus Co. on purchases of 21 Airbus aircraft over the next five years.

The French and Thai leaders will issue a joint statement on bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Thaksin said he would personally seek a support from President Chirac for Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiate Sathirathai's bid for the next United Nation’s Secretary-General.

Incumbent UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's term will expire at the end of this year.

09-21-2012, 10:13 AM	#2
tretcheenia Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 414 Senior Member	Chiang Mai gets a French sister Bangkok Post 18/2/06 Chiang Mai (TNA) - Thailand's northern resort city of Chiang Mai and France's southwestern resort city of Leon have agreed to become sister cities. The two cities are scheduled to officially sign the agreement in Chiang Mai on Saturday, witnessed by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and visiting French President Jacques Chirac. Vice Chairman of the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce Somsak Vanichkhachorn told TNA on Friday that he would also attend the signing ceremony of the accord, aimed mainly at forging close trade and investment ties and cooperation between the two cities. The Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce and its counterpart in Leon had also agreed to become comrades' chambers, with the agreement to be signed at Saturday's ceremony as well, Mr. Somsak noted. "The accord between the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce and its counterpart in Leon is believed to pave the way for expanding trade and investment between Thailand's northern Lanna cluster of provinces and Leon, which is a business and tourism centre in Europe," he said. The country's northern Lanna cluster of provinces include Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Phrae and Nan. "The accord is expected to particularly benefit local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as producers of community-based products under the government-supported One Tambon, One Product (OTOP) scheme," Mr. Somsak said. President Chirac and his wife, Madame Bernadette Chirac, are paying a state visit to Thailand as the guests of Their Majesties the King and Queen, scheculed for February 17-19. Their Majesties the King and Queen received the French president and his wife at the Royal Thai Air Force's Airport in Bangkok Friday afternoon. The visit, the first-ever for France's head of state since the Ayutthaya period, is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. On Saturday, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and members of the Thai cabinet are also scheduled to hold a plenary meeting with the French president and his entourage, including French foreign, finance and industry, external trade, defence and tourism ministers. The two sides will discuss a joint French-Thai action plan, proposed by the Thai government, covering bilateral cooperation in science and technology, tourism, as well as fashion businesses, including a plan to set up Thailand Fashion House in Paris. The two governments will also discuss a bilateral cooperation in extending financial support to Thailand's neighbouring countries. The Thai government will invite French business persons to invest in Thailand's mega-development projects as well. The Thai and French governments will then sign bilateral agreements in postal services, as well as information and communication technology (ICT) and science and technology. The two countries' private sector will also sign their business pacts, including those between Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) and Bangkok Airways and France-based Airbus Co. on purchases of 21 Airbus aircraft over the next five years. The French and Thai leaders will issue a joint statement on bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister Thaksin said he would personally seek a support from President Chirac for Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiate Sathirathai's bid for the next United Nation’s Secretary-General. Incumbent UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's term will expire at the end of this year.
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