Thailand's Prime Minister, General Kriangsak Chomanan, has told the Soviet Union that his country does not plan to take sides in the battles between its Communist neighbours in Indochina. During an official visit to the Soviet Union he had talks with Soviet leaders on the takeover of Thailand's neighbour, Kampuchea (Cambodia), by Vietnamese-backed insurgents and China's subsequent invasion of Vietnam.

SYNOPSIS: His first meeting, on Wednesday (21 March), was with Soviet Prime Minister, Alexei Kosygin, and Foreign Minister, Andrei Gromyko. The visit is seen as a Soviet attempt to gain diplomatic support in South-East Asia.

The talks took place two weeks after Soviet-backed Vietnam had accused Thailand of helping China supply weapons to guerrillas of the ousted Pol Pot government in Kampuchea. The Thais have denied the charge, and General Kriangsak stressed to the Soviet leaders Thailand's determination to remain neutral in the Indochina disputes.