By CHRIS V PANGANIBAN

DOHA: Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva (pictured) will stress on the strategic partnership between Thailand and Qatar and its significance to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, Korea and the GCC region during his dinner speech at Four Seasons Hotel on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister would elaborate in his speech the potential partnership on food security, Halal and agro industry, medical tourism, construction and financial products in compliance with Shariah law at the business gathering.

Vejjajiva will be on a three-day state visit to Qatar starting on November 24. The visit is both his first and for a highest Thai government official since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in August 7, 1980.

The speech is significant since being the recent chairman of ASEAN, Vejjajiva has presented his vision on the recovery measures from the world recession during G20 and Apec summits. He said that more could be done to stimulate and seize the early momentum of sustainable world recovery from the recent economic downturn.

The business meeting is co-organised with Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry as part of the major itineraries during his visit.

A Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Joint Business Council is set to be signed once the Thai prime minister holds discussions with his Qatari counterpart H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani.

Prior to the dinner, the Thai PM would also witness the signing of legal framework agreement between Siam Cement Group (SCG) of Thailand and Qatar Petroleum International for a joint LPG venture in Vietnam.

Members of Qatari Businessmen Association will call on Vejjajiva together with his economic ministers and presidents of Thai private sector associations.

Exchange of visits of the Thai-Qatar business community would be scheduled with the launch of the Joint Business Council activities.