RIYADH, 4 July — In a renewed bid to restore traditionally cordial relations with Saudi Arabia, Thailand has stepped up efforts to resolve the case of three Saudi diplomats, who were murdered nearly 11 years ago in Bangkok, according to a senior Thai diplomat yesterday.
Somsakdi Suriyawongse, charge d’affaires at Thai Embassy here, said relations between Riyadh and Bangkok strained following the diplomats’ murder in 1990. Around the same time, a Thai worker in Saudi Arabia stole jewels worth millions of dollars and fled the country.
He said the charge d’affaires at Saudi Embassy in Bangkok had three meetings with Thai Prime Minister Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra recently to discuss the case. Thai officials have already briefed the Saudis on the conclusion of the jewel theft case.
Commercial ties between the two countries registered a growth since last year, when the murder case was reopened. Thailand, however, had lost more than $300 million so far in trade and labor export to Saudi Arabia. Last year, Saudi exports to Thailand totaled $1.2 billion, while its imports were only $300 million.
During the first four months of this year, the two-way trade reported a 10 percent growth compared with the same period last year. The quantum leap in demand for gas, oil and other energy sources in the Asia-Pacific region including Thailand offers increased opportunities for investment in the region.
Thailand, Suriyawongse said, is proposing to export halal meat to Saudi Arabia. He noted that Bangkok was planning to participate in a halal food conference to be hosted by the Kingdom. The conference is scheduled on Sept. 24 in Riyadh.
“Bilateral relations are improving on all fronts”, said the diplomat. He referred to the support given by the Kingdom to 300 Thai pilgrims to perform Haj this year and 100 Saudi scholarships given to Thai students.
