Thailand is a "primary" Asian trade partner with Italy, foreign minister Angelino Alfano said on Friday after a meeting in Rome with his Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai.
"We discussed concrete measures aimed at strengthening our bilateral ties. Thailand is a primary trade partner in ASEAN and a favoured destination for many Italian companies," Alfano said in a statement.
Alfano stressed Italy and the European Union's wish to see a return to democracy in Thailand (after the 2014 coup led by current premier Prayuth Chan-ocha), as well as respect for human rights and "fundamental freedoms" in the country, the statement said.
The meeting between Alfano and Don at the foreign ministry came as Italy and Thailand mark 150 years of diplomatic relations and follows Alfano's visit to Bangkok on 9 February during a visit to southeast Asia, the ministry said.
