(dpa) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej departed Tuesday for Singapore to boost bilateral relations and regional cooperation via the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN), government sources said.
Samak, who postponed his trip to Malaysia last week because he was busy forming a post-election cabinet, departed Bangkok on Thai Airways International and was scheduled to arrive in Singapore at 7:55 pm Singapore time.
He had no official schedule Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday Samak is scheduled to hold talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, President SR Nathan, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean, the Singapore Foreign Affairs Ministry said.
Samak was sworn into office February 6 and has since visited Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar as part of a traditional post-inauguration tour made by leaders of countries in ASEAN to member states.
Singapore's prime minister will also host the Thai delegation at an official dinner before its departure Thursday morning.
Accompanying Samak are senior officials from the prime minister's office, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Royal Thai Army and the National Economic and Social Development Board of Thailand.