This official visit to the Republic of France was aimed to stress the close bilateral relationships with France as strategic partner with the second Thailand-France joint plan of action. The Prime Minister would discuss with Mr.Francois Hollande, the President of the Republic of France and exchange point of view on the current crisis, tendency and the policy of France to solve the problem and reiterate the bilateral cooperation such as increasing the trade and investment value, eliminating the obstacles and importantly to support the creative role of France in the Southeast Asia Region such as joining the regional network development project.

The Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of France were considered as the important countries with high volume of trade and investment in the European region and as major mechanism in driving cooperation with Thailand in the European region. These visits were the suitable time for Thai public sectors to use this opportunity to expand cooperation, trade and investment, including to solve the problems and reduce the trade obstacles through negotiations. There were Thai private sectors from five areas having trade and investment in the European region with plan for investment expansion namely food and agriculture, automobile parts industry, energy, fashion and medicine accompanied the delegation.

The program of the Prime Minister for 20 July 2012 : in the morning, the Prime Minister had a working breakfast with Team Thailand in France and Thai private sectors.

After that at11.00 hrs., the Prime Minister paid a courtesy call on Mr.Francois Hollande, the President of the Republic of France at the Palais de l’Elysee, and at 12.30 discussed with French Prime Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Hotel Matignon. After that, the Prime Minister witnessed the signing ceremony of the Agreement of Educational and Research Cooperation at the Salon Room, French Prime Minister’s Office. After that, French Prime Minister hosted the luncheon at the Salon Room, French Prime Minister’s Office.

At 15.00 hrs., in the afternoon, the leading French businessmen paid a courtesy call and discussed with the Prime Minister at the hotel. After that, the Prime Minister went to see the work on urban living development and urban management at the Pavillon d’Arsenal, Paris, the Republic of France.