By IANS
New Delhi : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Thursday left for Bangkok, on the first leg of his two-nation tour that also includes Seoul, to deepen India’s engagement with the Southeast Asian region.
Mukherjee’s visit to Bangkok has acquired an added importance as mystery continues to persist over the reported arrest of top LTTE arms procurer Kumaran Padmanathan, better known as KP, in Thailand.
The Indian embassy in Bangkok has asked the Thai government to confirm whether KP was arrested in Thailand on Monday.
Thai officials have denied that the top LTTE arms procurer, who was allegedly linked to the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, was arrested in their country.
In Bangkok, Mukherjee will co-chair the fifth meeting of the joint commission with his Thai counterpart Nitya Pibulsonggram Friday and discuss ways to expand ties in diverse areas including trade, transport to defence, security, energy and technology.
He will also call on Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont. Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn will host a dinner in honour of Mukherjee Saturday.
The minister will meet the Indian heads of missions in the region Saturday and inaugurate an exhibition of contemporary art.
He leaves for Seoul Sunday where he will co-chair the 5th meeting of the joint mission along with his Korean counterpart Song Min-soon.
In Seoul, he has a diplomatic challenge in persuading South Korea to support the India-US nuclear deal. Seoul recently criticised the nuclear deal, saying it stood in the way of efforts to denuclearise North Korea.
India and South Korea are rapidly expanding their economic ties with both sides planning to enhance bilateral trade from $7.1 billion in 2006 to $10 billion next year.