I am pleased to welcome the visit to Australia by Thailand's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Surakiart Sathirathai, from 3-6 July 2001.  Dr Surakiart's visit is the first by a Minister of Thailand's new Government following elections in January this year.

Dr Surakiart and I will meet in Adelaide on 4 July to discuss a range of bilateral issues.  We will also assess key regional developments in the lead-up to this month's ASEAN meetings in Hanoi, which both Dr Surakiart and I will attend.

Whilst in Australia, Dr Surakiart will also visit Sydney where he will undertake a range of meetings, including with the Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile, and the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Philip Ruddock, and the business and Thai communities.  

Our countries have a long tradition of mutually beneficial cooperation, underlined by Australia's assistance to Thailand during the Asian economic crisis, and both countries' leading roles in East Timor peacekeeping operations.   Dr Surakiart's visit will reinforce and extend this close cooperation.