CRO ECONOMY MINISTER IN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THAILAND

BANGKOK/ZAGREB, July 7 (Hina) - Croatian Economy Minister Nenad Porges, who is in an official visit to Thailand, on Wednesday held talks with Thai Deputy Prime Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi on cooperation between the two countries. The two officials said that economic agreements regarding the promotion and protection of investments and avoiding dual taxation be accelerated. Porges and Panitchpakdi said that trade cooperation also needed to be accelerated and an agreement on science and technology cooperation needed to be completed, the Croatian Economy Ministry said in a statement. The statement also read that Panitchpakdi is one of the candidates for the position of the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) Secretary General. Panitchpakdi welcomed and supported Croatia's efforts to complete negotiations on its joining the WTO. Porges also met Thai Deputy Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand Paribatro. The two officials signed an agreement on air traffic between the two countries. They also addressed the situation in Southeast Europe. It was confirmed that Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will visit Croatia in April on May 2000, the statement read. The Croatian delegation, headed by Porges, is scheduled to depart for Singapore on Thursday. (hina) it jn