Hong Kong and Thailand sign tax pact

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Thailand signed a cooperation arrangement on strengthening trade and economic relations, the authority announced here on Tuesday. HK's Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Gregory So and Thai Minister of Commerce Boonsong Teriyapirom signed the pact here, as Chief Executive CY Leung and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra witnessed the signing ceremony, said a governmental news release. Mr So said Thailand is an important trading partner and the pact signifies the development of closer trade and economic ties between the two sides. "As the next step, we look forward to further enhancing economic ties between Hong Kong and Thailand through Hong Kong's eventual accession to the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. We are delighted and encouraged to receive Thailand's support for our request for accession to the free trade area," Mr So added. The cooperation arrangement aims to encourage and promote economic co-operation in trade in goods and services, investment, trade-related rules and regulations, collaboration of small and medium enterprises, logistics and transport, tourism, information and communication technology, applied research and development, human resource development, intellectual property rights, and the creative economy's development. Prime Minister Yingluck is here on Feb. 25-26 following her visit to the Republic of Korea.