On Monday, 28 May 2012, Ms Yingluck Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand joined the Chief Minister Ms Katy Gallagher MLA in planting a Red toon in the Central Valley of the National Arboretum.
The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand’s visit to Australia coincides with the 60th Anniversary of Bilateral Relationships between our two countries. In Canberra, the Prime Minister met with our Prime Minister, Julia Gillard and Australian Ministers as well as the Leader of the Opposition Mr Tony Abbott.
The planting of the Red toon represented our commitment to strengthening the relationship between our two countries and, in particular, the ties between the people of the ACT and Thailand. The Red toon is a deciduous tree, perfect for inclusion at the National Arboretum as it is resilient to frost. The species is native to eastern and south-eastern Asia, incorporating North Korea, China, Nepal, India, Thailand and Indonesia.