Thaksin to arrive in Cambodia Friday

Sept 12, 2011
Bangkok Post

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will begin a visit to Cambodia on Sept 16 to attend the Asian Economic Forum Conference, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported on its website.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (left) hugs Cambodian premier Hun Sen on Nov 11, 2009 in Cambodia. (Photo REUTERS)

Hun Sen said Thaksin's visit was scheduled before the official visit of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who will make an official one-day visit to Phnom Penh on Thursday.

The Cambodian prime minister said this during a graduation ceremony of 4,100 students at the National University of Management, the Xinhua report said.

Hun Sen said Thaksin would stay from Sept 16 until 24 and attend the Asian Economic Future Conference, organised by the Royal Academy of Cambodia, not to talk with Cambodia on oil and gas issues.

The Cambodian prime minister stressed that the responsibility for negotiating oil and gas deals and other issues with Cambodia rests with the Thai government, not Thaksin.

So far no agreement had been reached on oil and gas deal talks between Cambodia and Thailand, he said.

During the visit, Thaksin would give a lecture on Asian Economics on Sept 17 at the Peace Palace, the Xhunhua report said.

At the Peace Palace, he would officially greet Thaksin and they would talk on economic development, Hun Sen said.

Hun Sen said he would play golf with Thaksin on Sept 18.

On Sept 24, Cambodian and Thai parliamentarians and high-ranking officials would play football at Phnom Penh's Olympic Stadium, the prime minister added.

A spokesman for the Phnom Penh Post newspaper confirmed that Thaksin is scheduled to arrive in the Cambodian capital on Friday.