Russia and Thailand have completed the process of agreeing a protocol on Russia joining the World Trade Organization [WTO], Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after talks with his Thai counterpart Surakiart Sathirathai.
"The process of agreeing a protocol on Russia joining the WTO has been completed. This document will be signed in the near future," Lavrov explained.
The minister also said that his talks in Thailand have demonstrated significant progress in implementing agreements reached as a result of meetings between the leaders of the two countries.
"These agreements cover virtually every part of people's lives and all of society. Today we spoke about considerable growth in economic ties, which means we can count on soon achieving the target of doubling trade the leaders of the two countries set. We have good prospects for defence technology cooperation," he said.
Lavrov said that at the talks they "agreed parameters for settling the former USSR's debt to Thailand, and in a format which enables both countries to develop their cooperation in civil aviation, advanced technologies and research into the peaceful use of space". The Russian foreign minister said the sides "had agreed to broaden their scientific and technological cooperation".
According to the minister, "considerable attention was paid to the prospects for bilateral cooperation on energy. There is mutual interest in investing in the energy sector of both Russia and Thailand."
The sides are interested in developing cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, specifically in making preparations for the first-ever Russia-ASEAN summit, which is scheduled for next autumn in Malaysia. "Our colleagues in Thailand are prepared to draw up an economic declaration between Russia and ASEAN for this summit, which will add to the package of existing accords, including the declaration on cooperating to maintain stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the declaration on fighting terrorism," the minister said.
"It should be noted that our links with Thailand on fighting terrorism are becoming more and more specific. This applies to exchanging information, setting up potential joint operations to prevent terrorism, stopping the funding of terrorism, fighting drugs trafficking and organized crime," he said.
The minister said that "Thailand wants Russia to join a new and very promising group - ASEAN plus China, Japan and South Korea".
The Russian and Thai foreign ministers signed an agreement on cooperation in education today.

Source: RIA news agency, Moscow
BBC Monitoring