On 23 – 25 February 2016, Mr. Apichart Chinwanno, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accompanied General Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence,
H.E. Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister, and several key Ministers during a visit to Moscow. The visit aimed to prepare for the Prime Minister’s official visit to Russia prior to the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit, scheduled to be held in the city of Sochi on 19 – 20 May 2016.

         General Prawit paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and discussed relations between Thailand and Russia. He also met with Mr. Dmitry Rogozin, Deputy Prime Minister responsible for security matters to discuss cooperation between the two countries in security issues. H.E. Mr. Somkid met his counterpart, Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich, Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Agriculture, Energy, Transport, Science and Technology, to discuss economic cooperation in various areas.

         On this occasion, H.E.Mr. Somkid had one-on-one meetings with the President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and CEOs from prominent Russian companies such as Group IB, Sistema, FESCO Integrated Transport, and OJSC Magnit Hypermarket Group. The Deputy Prime Minister also gave an opening remarks at a Thai-Russian business roundtable meeting organized by the Board of Investment of Thailand. Approximately 50 Thai and Russian businessmen attended the event. Moreover, the Ministry of Commerce organized a business matching event with over 150 representatives from Thai and Russian companies. Russian businessmen expressed particular interest in the Thai energy, aerospace, and advance electronic, and software industries. It is expected that the meeting will generate business deals worth more than 80 million baht.

         The visit serves to enhance relations between Thailand and Russia to a new height, boosting cooperation in multiple areas including trade, investment, tourism, energy, science and technology, as well as cooperation against transnational crime and terrorism. Furthermore, both sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in information technology, digital economy, aerospace, life science, agricultural technology, and oil and gas production.