BANGKOK, Aug. 29 Kyodo Prime Mini...

BANGKOK, Aug. 29 Kyodo

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra upon Thursday said Thailand would issue an hall visa to a top Taiwan labor official to witness the signing of a bilateral labor accord, trying to present an end to a dispute above the visa issue.

Thaksin said misunderstandings between the brace sides should be cleared since he has instructed Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai to issue a visa to Chen Chui, chairwoman of the cabinet-level Council of Labor Affairs (CLA) in Taiwan.

''I have told Minister Surakiart we still adhere to the 'one-China policy' while economic engagement with Taiwan shall be maintained,'' he told reporters.

''As prolonged as it is a absolutely economic matter, a visa will be issued,'' Thaksin added.

in succession Tuesday, Chen said Taiwan is unlikely to take part in a regular meeting forward labor issues with Thailand after Bangkok decided not to issue her a visa to travel to the geographical division following pressure from Beijing.

''I did not ask for the invitation, it was the Thai conduct who first decided to issue me a visa,'' Chen said.

Thaksin said a Thai labor counselor in Taipei mistakenly issued an invitation to Chen to lead the Taiwan delegation at the annual two-day conversation scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

The signing of the labor accord was scheduled for Thursday in the Thai resort island of Phuket

Local dailies reported that the labor counselor, Singhadej Chuamnart, has been recalled from the Labor and Social Welfare Ministry for his blunder

Thai Foreign Ministry officials in charge of Chinese and Taiwan affairs said they have not received any instruction to issue a visa to Chen.

Thailand will have to renegotiate with Taiwan if the labor accord and the annual consultation will be rescheduled, a labor ministry official said.

Foreign Minister Surakiart said Tuesday the signing of the labor pact should be ''rescheduled'' for ''appropriateness'' forward both sides if ministerial of the same height representatives are to witness the signing.

The brace sides were to discuss migrant labor and ink an agreement to help secure the human rights of Thai laborers staying in Taiwan, according to a CLA pres release issued Tuesday.

The labor pact will enable Taiwanese employer to directly recruit Thai workers without having to pay expensive recompenses to job brokers.

There are one 140,000 Thai laborers, mostly in construction and industrial works, in Taiwan, according to the Thai Labor Ministry. Thai laborers annually cast some 50 billion baht (about $119 billion) back to Thailand, the ministry added.

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