Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma will leave on Saturday for a visit to the Sultanate of Brunei and the Kingdom of Thailand. \n \nAs expected, the president will arrive in Brunei on a state visit on March 7, Interfax-Ukraine reports. \n \nIt is planned that Kuchma will hold talks in the capital of Brunei, the city of Bandar Seri Begawan, with the Sultan of Brunei, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. \n \nIt is also planned to discuss the development of cooperation between the two states, primarily in the economic sphere. \n \nThe Ukrainian delegation headed by the president will also meet with the head of the Brunei Investment Agency and inspect the enterprises of the company "Brunei Liquefied Natural Gas". \n \nKuchma will complete the state visit to Brunei on March 9 and on the same day will leave on an official visit to the Kingdom of Thailand. \n \nThis will be the first official visit of the President of Ukraine to Thailand in the history of bilateral relations. \n \nDuring the visit, as expected, talks will take place between the delegations of the two countries, at which further cooperation between Ukraine and Thailand will be discussed. \n \nIt is planned that following the results of the talks a number of bilateral documents will be signed. \n\nDuring Kuchma's meeting with the King of Thailand Bhumibol Adulyadej, issues of deepening bilateral relations will be discussed. \n\nDuring the visit, the President of Ukraine and members of the official delegation will also discuss directions for the development of cooperation in the economic sphere with representatives of Thai business circles, the press service reported. \n\nThe visit will end on March 11. \n\nAs is known, opposition forces have planned protest actions for March 9 in connection with the attack on freedom of speech in Ukraine. \n\nThis is not the first time that Kuchma leaves Kyiv on the day of mass demonstrations against his policies. Thus, on March 9, 2001, when clashes between the opposition and police forces took place in Kyiv, Kuchma left for Zakarpattia. \n\nOn September 16, 2002, when the opposition held a 50,000-strong rally in Kyiv and set up a tent camp on Bankova Street, Kuchma was at an economic forum in Salzburg (Austria). \n\nOn March 9, 2003, when another mass rally took place in Kyiv, Kuchma was on a visit to Slovakia. \n