Thai PM: No government funds for General Motors

"I appreciate the difficulties the industry is going through.  But our plan  at  the  moment  is  not  to  provide specific assistance to individual companies,"  he  told  reporters  at  a news conference in Tokyo.

Abhisit  said Thailand would  in-stead  look  to  provide  assistance  in a "neutral and market-friendly way" through measures  such  as  changing regulations where they impede business  or  by  ensuring  domestic  customers have adequate financing.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva,  left,  is presented with  a button  commemorating the Japan-Mekong friendship year from his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso prior to their talks at Aso's official residence in Tokyo on Fridqy February 6, Abhisit is here on a three-day visit to Tokyo to promote investment in Thailand. (AP Photo/Toru YAMANAKA, POOL)

He spoke during a three-day trip to Japan, which has included meetings with top businessmen and lawmakers. He was due to meet Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso later Friday.

On  Thursday,  General  Motors Inc.  said it  would  ask  Thailand's Ministry of Industry and local banks to  help  fund  expanded  truck manufacturing  and  a  new  $445  million diesel factory in the country. Since announcing the expanded production in Thailand, GM has run short of the cash required to run even its own operations and was forced to ask the U.S. government for billions in emergency funds.

During  his  trip  to Tokyo  one  of Thailand's major trading partners Abhisit also sought to persuade Japan's political  and  industrial  leaders  that the  country  is  again  politically  stable. Last year, Thailand was rocked by political upheaval, with protesters opposed to the previous government holding street demonstrations and

occupying Bangkok's airports.