Thai PM-Apparent Stressed Links with Neighboring CountriesThaksin Shinawatra, who apparently will become the next prime minister of Thailand, on Monday stressed the links between northern Thailand and neighboring countries, according to reports from Thai News Agency."There is high possibility of linking resources of the North and those of the neighboring countries such as China, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam," said the leader of Thai Rak Thai party at a press conference in the northern province of Chiang Mai, his hometown, 700 kilometers north of Bangkok. He reiterated that the promotion of relations with neighboring countries under his government would focus on "multidimensional relations." Thanking the northern residents for their overwhelming support for him during the January 6 national election, he said that shows the northerners want him, a son of the North, to become prime minister this time. Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party was the biggest winner during the national poll in Thailand's north, northeast, central and east regions, except the south, the stronghold of the ruling Democrat party. The Thai Rak Thai party, or Thai Loves Thai, has already been convinced to grab over half of the parliamentary seats and head the new government. "The North will be developed to the point that it could attract more investment and tourist arrivals," Thaksin said. In further developing the northern region, he also promised to help create equilibrium between economic development and environmental, cultural conservation. |
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