PH, Thai lawmakers discuss rice trade, tourism at IPU sidelines

Lawmakers from the Philippines and Thailand have discussed rice trade and tourism strategies at the sidelines of the 148th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

According to the information released by Senate's Social Media Unit, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, together with Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Senators Lito Lapid, and Nancy Binay met with their Thai counterparts, Senate President Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, Senators Pikulkeaw Krairiksh and Suwannee Sirivejchapun, and Member of Parliament Pita Limjaroenarat last March 24.

They were joined by Ambassador Carlos Sorreta, the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva.

During the meeting, Zubiri emphasized the importance of "rice diplomacy" between the two countries, noting that the Philippines is importing rice from Thailand.

He likewise tagged Thailand as the "King of Tourism in [the] ASEAN" which he said is an "achievement worth emulating by the Philippines."

In these two areas, Zubiri suggested "a healthy exchange of best practices and a shared program of sharing tourists" through what he called the "two countries, one destination" program.

Zubiri also highlighted the 50th year of the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Thailand and informed the Thai delegation of his forthcoming visit to Bangkok this coming April 3 to 6.

He will be visiting Thailand to "reciprocate" the parliamentarians' visit during the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) which was hosted by the Philippines last November 2023.

As a martial artist himself, Zubiri also appealed to the Thai Senate president for the inclusion of Arnis in the Southeast Asian Games which will be hosted by Thailand in 2025.

In response, Senate President Wichitcholchai was said to have committed to work on Zubiri's request.

Wichitcholchai likewise expressed how Thailand deeply values its bilateral ties with the Philippines and extended his gratitude to the Filipino senators for the hospitality that was accorded to them during the APPF.

As the host of the IPU Regional Conference on Health and Security in 2025, Wichitcholchai also invited the Philippines to attend the event.

The 148th IPU Assembly, which has the overall theme "Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding," started last March 23 and will end on March 27.

The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments with 180 member parliaments out of the 193 countries in the world.

In his speech at the 148th IPU Assembly General Debate, Zubiri appealed to his fellow lawmakers to be "facilitators of peace" amid wars in different parts of the world.

He likewise appealed to the IPU members to stand with the Philippines in promoting international rules-based order in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The assembly is expected to end with the adoption of an outcome document on the overall theme.—AOL, GMA Integrated News