Thailand, S Korea to boost ties

Thailand and South Korea yesterday promised to continue developing closer ties "in all aspects" during a meeting of their women leaders in Seoul.

Just hours after Park Geun-Hye's inauguration, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called on her at the Blue House, the executive office and official residence of the country's president.

Yingluck congratulated Park on becoming her country's first woman president. She said Thailand would strengthen its strategic partnership with South Korea in the political, economic and social spheres for mutual benefit.

Park thanked Yingluck for taking part in her inauguration ceremony. She also said she was glad both countries would boost their relationship in all aspects and at all levels to become strategic partners.

The leaders agreed that women were now assuming greater roles in many areas and sectors in society.

Late in the morning, Yingluck was among some 60,000 dignitaries witnessing Park's two-and-a-half hour swearing-in ceremony in the plaza in front of the National Assembly in the South Korean capital.