Phl, Thailand sign three cooperation agreements

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippines and Thailand today signed three agreements aimed at increasing economic cooperation between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and his Thai counterpart Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who is on official visit to the country to attend the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, signed agreements on taxation, trade and energy.

The Convention on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income are expected help facilitate economic activities between the two countries.

Both sides have also agreed to establish an Energy Forum to further advance cooperation in the energy sector while a Memorandum of Understanding on the Development of Cooperation between the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce Industry and Banking are seen to promote collaboration on trade and investment between the Philippine and Thai companies.

During the meeting, Del Rosario and Surapong provided updates on the political and economic developments in their respective countries.

Other topics discussed were trade and investment, technical cooperation, education, tourism, and transportation, law enforcement and legal cooperation, defense and labor.

The two ministers likewise exchanged views on regional and international issues including disputes in the South China Sea. Thailand is this year's head of rotating chairmanship of the ASEAN- China dialogue.