Dr. Panithan, also acting government spokesman, said the trip was also considered as an introductory trip for the Thai prime minister, who assumed office in December last year.

He will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, PM's secretary-general Niphon Promphan, and adviser Kanok Wongtra-ngan.

Thailand wants to promote bilateral ties with Vietnam in various fields including politics, trade, investment, tourism, transport and education, Mr Panithan said.

Mr. Abhisit and his entourage were scheduled to leave Bangkok early next Friday morning and would return at 10.55 pm the same day.

During the visit, the prime minister would pay a courtesy call to Vietnam’s President Nguyen Minh Triet, meet his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung and Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Secretary-General  Nong Duc Manh.

Both sides were expected to discuss the ways to strengthen the bilateral relations and to carry on existing policy on each nation and to adjust and modernise the ties between the two countries, said Dr. Panithan.

The main concerns to be discussed by the two prime ministers are trade, investment, tourism, transport and communication.

"The main focus will be … rice as Thailand and Vietnam are the number one and two producers respectively among the world’s top rice exporters, and Thailand is planning to ask for the cooperation from Vietnam to set up regional rice stock partnership," he said.

However, this initiative will depend on the prospects for rice production in Vietnam as the country’s volume of domestic consumption is still high and a lower volume is planned for export, he said.

There will also be discussion on increasing the land area dedicated to rice production, Dr. Panithan said.

Source: TNA and Bangkok Post