Philippine Ambassador to Thailand, Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia, led Embassy officials in paying a courtesy call on Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Ivory Room, Thai Khu Fah Building, Government House on 5 August 2013. Ambassador Batoon-Garcia was accompanied by Minister Edgar B. Badajos, Third Secretary Princess Tomas-Tayao, Philippine Defense Attaché Colonel Reuben Basiao, and Philippine Trade Counselor Eric Elnar.  The Prime Minister was joined by her official Spokesperson, the Secretary General to the PM’s office, and several officials from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister Yingluck welcomed the Ambassador and the members of her delegation and expressed her keen interest to work with her in further promoting Philippines-Thailand bilateral relations.  The Ambassador replied that she also looked forward to further cooperation with the Prime Minister and her government and added that Thai government officials have been very cooperative with her.

They noted the success of the recently-concluded 5th Meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation in Manila.

Ambassador Batoon-Garcia said that the Philippines would like to welcome more Thai investors to the Philippines. Prime Minister Yingluck assured the Ambassador that her Government is working hard in identifying areas where the Philippines and Thailand can cooperate further in trade and investment.

Ambassador Batoon-Garcia also stated that the number of Thai tourists to the Philippines increased by 18% for the first five months of 2013.  She attributed the increase to the Philippine Government and the Embassy’s tourism promotion efforts as well as the Prime Minister’s program to raise the Thai people’s awareness of ASEAN. She expressed the hope that more Thais will visit the Philippines. She added that Cebu Pacific will fly to Phuket before the end of the year.

Ambassador Batoon-Garcia assured the Prime Minister of the Embassy’s full cooperation in nurturing Philippines-Thailand relations.  She also congratulated the Prime Minister on Thailand’s successful hosting of the High-Level Forum on the 10th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership on 2 August 2013, and expressed confidence that Thailand’s hosting of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Hua Hin on 14 August 2013 will be equally successful.