Bangkok  - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva departed Friday for a one-day visit to the Philippines where he will discuss bilateral relations and promote the sale of Thai rice.

The prime minister departed from Don Mueang Airport aboard a special Thai Air Force aircraft.

Abhisit, 44, became prime minister in December 2008 amid political turmoil in Thailand that had culminated with the seizure of Bangkok's two international airports by demonstrators, leading to the collapse of the previous government.

In the Philippines, Abhisit will discuss a variety of bilateral issues including Thai efforts to sell rice to its South-East Asian partner.

Thailand, the world's largest rice exporter, has found it hard to sell rice to the Philippines, which has opted for cheaper rice from Vietnam in past government auctions.

"I will try to make it possible for Thai rice to compete with Vietnamese rice," Abhisit said before his departure. (dpa)