China, India to be focuses of Thailand's diplomacy: PM

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, January 10, 2004

China, India to be focuses of Thailand's diplomacy: PM

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Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra unfolded plans for an overhaul of Thai operations abroad Friday, stressing that China and India should be the most important countries for Thailand's diplomacy, the Thai News Agency reported Saturday.

Speaking at the "Team Thailand" meeting joined by officials from many government agencies, Thaksin called for a "revolution ofideas" which could lead to an overhaul of the structure of all Thailand's foreign embassies, consuls and government agencies abroad.

Government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair revealed that the new plans would see a shift of focus away from certain countries, and greater engagement with others.

He was quoted as saying that in the past because some countrieshad a lot of relations with Thailand, Thai embassies or consulatesin these countries were thought to be important, but from now on, importance would be attached to the People's Republic of China andthe Republic of India.

Civil servants have been asked to think carefully about the role of government agencies abroad, and to think of their own personal role in terms of national responsibilities, Jakrapob said,adding that sending civil servants abroad would not depend on longevity of service.

He stressed that the role of diplomats would no longer be simply that of conducting diplomatic protocol, but would be a roleof coordinating, carrying out orders, and conducting operations inaccordance with national targets, agency targets and personnel management targets.

In addition, Jakrapob said, the government might introduce "roving ambassadors," which means that there may be no necessity for some groups of diplomats to live permanently abroad, instead, they would work as teams for only three or six months.

Under Thaksin's direction, the "Team Thailand" meeting would beheld on a weekly basis for another two sessions before a conclusion on his plans is reached, the report said.

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