Arroyo seeks Thailand's agrmnt to supply more rice

1. Wide of Philippine President Gloria Arroyo walking with Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej 2. Tight shot of Sundaravej 3. Mid of Arroyo walking with Sundaravej 4. Line of honour guards 5. Various of Sundaravej with Arroyo at photo opportunity 6. Close up of photographer 9. Arroyo speaking at dinner 10. Sundaravej and Arroyo making toast STORYLINE: The Philippines sought Thailand's agreement on Thursday to supply more rice to the country as the government continues to shore up its inventories amid high global prices and tight supplies. As the world's biggest rice importer, the Philippines says it has contracted 1.7 (m) million tons of the staple to fill a 10-percent domestic production gap this year and wants to buy an additional 675 thousand tons as buffer stocks for the last quarter of the year. The government has secured contracts with Vietnam for up to 1.5 (m) million tons of rice and with Japan for 200 thousand tons of rice and is now also in talks with Thailand, the top rice exporter, over additional supplies. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's visit on Thursday and Friday was dominated by talks aimed at securing adequate rice supplies and stable prices. Arroyo spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said the two leaders discussed cooperation on food security, improving the supply and distribution of rice and boosting rice productivity through research and development. Samak was due to visit the International Rice Research Institute south of Manila on Friday, which has been developing rice varieties to increase production and withstand drought or floods to benefit farmers across the world. Earlier in the week on Wednesday Arroyo urged the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to work with the rice institute to help improve rice production. Rice prices have tripled this year driven in part by rising fuel prices, cuts in agriculture funding, financial speculation and poor weather conditions. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/a09d0367080b5129b7319433c2f0ca41 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork