The Thai people share equal pride with Filipinos with the success of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in the international sports arena, visiting Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Thursday.
?It is a pleasure in visiting the Philippines, a country that shares close ties with Thailand and one that has produced great talents on the global stage including Manny Pacquiao in boxing,? Shinawatra said during the luncheon hosted in her honor by President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacanang.
As a fellow Southeast Asian neighbor, Shinawatra said the Thai people feel great pride and honor with the success of Filipino athletes like Pacquiao in the global scene.
Pacquiao, the current World Boxing Council Super Welterweight World Champion and World Boxing Organization Welterweight World Champion, is an eight-division world champion. He is the first boxer in history to win ten world titles in eight different weight divisions.
Pacquiao, who is also a congressman representing Sarangani province, is also currently rated as the number one pound-for-pound best boxer in the world.
The Thai leader also thanked President Aquino for the warm welcome extended to her and her delegation during her brief visit in the country. Shinawatra is scheduled to go back to Thailand Thursday afternoon.
Shinawatra, Thailand’s first lady leader, exchanged views with President Aquino on several bilateral and regional issues that are of mutual interest to the Philippines and Thailand.
She was briefed on the implementation of existing cooperation between the two countries in energy, agriculture, defense, culture, education, combating drug trafficking, and disaster risk reduction and management.
The visit is Shinawatra?s first trip to the Philippines since she assumed her post as prime minister in August 2011. The visit is part of the commemoration of the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Thailand.
