The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO ) wants Thailand to become the base for battling bird flu among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, An Agriculture

Ministry spokesman said in Bangkok.

The spokesman said that the proposal was made during a recent meeting between Minister Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and He Chang Chui,assistant director of FAO's Asia and the Pacific regional office, the Thai News Agency reported on Monday.

The spokesman said the FAO had commended Thailand for its cooperation with the UN body in controlling the disease.

The FAO also urged the Thai government to provide agricultural and food production know-how to neighboring countries under the South-South Cooperation program to help solve hunger and nutritional problems there, the report said.

Thailand will initially assist under the program to Myanmar and Cambodia. But the latter two are having budget problems and the FAO pledged to seek financial help from other countries to help meet their required payments.

Source: Xinhua