Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Monday dismissed reports
on the possible change of the venue for the special ASEAN (the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit on the severe acute
respiratory syndromes (SARS) to be held here on Tuesday.
"It is just a pure rumor. Don't pay too much attention to it. It is
groundless and complete nonsense", a report from Thai News Agency
quoted the prime minister as saying.
Thaksin said he would take the opportunity to hold bilateral talks
with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao during the summit.
Main issues to be discussed include the follow-up of progress in
the Asian Cooperation Dialogue, the Asian Bond Scheme, and the
agreed Sino-Thai Free Trade Area Agreement, as well as bilateral
cooperation in drugs suppression and the prospect of Asian
economies.
As
well, the prime ministers will hold a comprehensive discussion on
ways to contain the SARS outbreak and restore people's
confidence.
Thai Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan disclosed that the
special summit would begin with the assessment of the epidemic
situation in the region and the progress in containing the disease
by a representative of the World Health Organization.
(Xinhua News Agency April 29, 2003)