PERU, May 31 (TNA) - Thailand has pledged to continue exporting food at fair prices as many countries are suffering from food shortages, as non-oil producing nations are being hurt from soaring global oil prices.

Commerce and Deputy Prime Minister Mingkwan Saengsuwan said before attending the trade ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) that the major issue to be dealt with at the meeting is the worldwide food crisis resulting from soaring oil prices and global warming.

Thailand, as the world's largest rice exporter, will continue to export the critical commodity at fair price and will not take advantage of the countries being impacted by the food shortage by raising its prices, Mr. Mingkwan said.
 
The Thai commerce minister said he expected that APEC could find a solution on food shortage because both major food exporting and importing countries are participating.

As nearly three-fourths of Thailand's exports -- 73 per cent -- go to APEC member countries, the kingdom considers the APEC meeting highly significant to the Thai economy, he said.

The meeting will also discuss the stalled WTO Doha round of global trade talks and trade increases among APEC members, Mr. Mingkwan added.