Supachai, a former head of the World Trade Organisation, offered to help arrange meetings with European representatives who do not fully understand the situation in Thailand.

He suggested Surayud find time to meet European investors to explain the interim government's status and its concept of a sufficiency economy, officials said.

After the September 19 coup Supachai had been one of the candidates to be interim prime minister.

after he explained the situation in Thailand to business leaders from Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec)

Surayud said that following his speech at the Apec CEO summit, Supachai told him the feedback from Apec business leaders who heard the speech was good. The CEO summit is held in parallel with the summit of Apec's 21 political leaders.

"Supachai didn't listen to me when I was giving a speech at the CEO summit, but he said people who listened said they had regained confidence in Thailand," Surayud said.

Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet said Supachai also told Surayud that American executives who had met Surayud described him as being unlike the typical "military man" because he was a modest rather than arrogant man.

Supachai requested a meeting, which Krirk-krai dubbed a meeting of two gentlemen, with Surayud on Saturday night at the hotel where both were staying for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting.

Krirk-krai said Supachai recommended that Surayud find more time to meet European investors to explain the political situation and regain their confidence in the same way he did with Apec investors.

"Supachai said he was willing to assist in arranging the meetings, if Khun Surayud wanted to," Krirk-krai said.

Apec leaders yesterday wrapped up their meeting by expressing "strong concern" over North Korea and calling for the resumption of the Doha Round of global trade talks.

In his first Apec summit, Surayud chose the yellow traditional Vietnamese outfit for the Apec photo opportunity. He stood side by side by the Apec leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President George W Bush.

Asked what he had talked about with Bush, Surayud noted that after his speech, Bush told him he was "straightforward".

Surayud said his attendance at Apec provided a good opportunity for the interim government to tell world leaders about the continuity of economic policy and steps towards a democratic election.

The premier said Thailand had proposed an initiative under the context of human security in which sub-regional cooperation would be expanded. Surayud said he cited as an example cooperation among Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma and Thailand to fight bird flu.

Thai senior officials said the main goal of the trip was to regain the confidence of Apec leaders after earlier criticism from the international community about the coup.

Commerce Minister Krirk-krai said: "I think the most tangible and immediate benefit from this meeting is that we have regained investor confidence by explaining the interim government's motives and policy."

Foreign Minister Nitya Pibulsonggram said: "I am satisfied with the feedback from the Apec meeting. Before we came here, many might not understand the direction that we were heading. But now everyone thanks, understands and expresses their best wishes to us."

Apart from the human-security issue, Surayud said the meeting also discussed security issues such as the terrorism threats that could affect the transportation of goods among countries. He said the leaders agreed to find the best way to cooperate by for instance exchanging information as speedily as possible to prevent the problems.

Surayud added that the Apec leaders also agreed with the urgent need to resume multilateral trade talks under the World Trade Organisation.

Jeerawat Na Thalang

The Nation

HANOI