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A CLOSER economic partnership between New Zealand and Thailand will bring mutual benefits to consumers and businesses in both countries, Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra said.
His comments followed meetings with New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark and ministers from both countries.
"Miss Clark and I are strongly committed to concluding the CEP agreement within this year," Dr Thaksin said.
'We believe that the CEP will bring mutual benefits for consumers and business in both countries, increase our bilateral trade and investment and bring greater mobility of business and people," Dr Thaksin said.
The two Prime Ministers also agreed to establish a working holiday scheme for young people from both countries.
"There has been a very successful round of negotiations, " Miss Clark commented. "The Thai officials are here in considerable numbers now and there has been good talking, so I think we remain pretty optimistic, " Miss Clark said.