BANGKOK, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thailand and Timor-Leste agreed on Friday to begin negotiating a rice trade agreement and to push for direct flights between the two countries as their prime ministers pledged closer cooperation on food security and tackling online scams.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Timor-Leste counterpart, Xanana Gusmao, who is on a two-day official visit to Bangkok, said in a joint statement that they would open talks on a memorandum of understanding on rice trade to strengthen food security in Timor-Leste.
The leaders stressed the need for enhanced air connectivity to advance economic relations and tourism, and foster people-to-people ties. They called for the earliest possible conclusion and implementation of an air services agreement so that direct air links could begin.
The two sides also agreed to step up cooperation against online scams and other transnational crime.
Foreign ministries of the two countries signed a memorandum establishing a bilateral consultation mechanism, with the first round to be held in Timor-Leste. ■