Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will be arriving this Friday for a state visit on the invitation of President Arroyo, the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila said Tuesday.

It will be the first time the Thai prime minister will visit the country since he was elected last year.

Thailand and the Philippines are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which just celebrated its 42nd founding anniversary last Monday.

Before visiting Manila, Vejjajiva has visited other ASEAN countries, including Malaysia and Vietnam, to enhance bilateral relations with ASEAN members.

Vejjajiva is the 27th prime minister of Thailand, elected in December, 2008 during a special House voting session.

Born in Newcastle, England in 1964, Vejjajiva graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and a Master's Degree in Economics from Oxford University, Britain.

He began his political career in 1992 and is seen as a new-generation politician, young, and well- educated.

Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Thailand began on June 14, 1949 with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship in Washington DC, USA.

Bilateral trade between the two countries has been growing with bilateral trade valued at US$780 million in 2008 from $160 million in 2007.

Thailand’s trade products include rice, electronic integrated circuits, and refined fuels. Philippine trade products include electronic parts, vehicle parts and accessories, computers, and electrical machineries.

There are approximately 10,000 Filipinos in Thailand working as teachers, entertainers, professionals, and fishermen.