Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra met with President Benigno Aquino in Manila yesterday for a six-hour visit to discuss increasing economic cooperation . . . the leaders agreed to expand trade and investment, including increasing the amount of rice exported from Thailand to the Philippines . . . bilateral cooperation will also focus on energy, agriculture, defense and education policy . . . both countries are members of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) . . . the disputed Spratly islands were also discussed at the meeting . . . six countries currently claim sovereignty over some of the islands . . . the visit further strengthens ties between Thailand and the Philippines . . . Thailand is extremely grateful for the help that was provided by the Philippine government during the intense flooding of 58 provinces last year . . . Aquino is likely hoping to acquire Thai support for the Philippine effort to resolve the Spratly dispute, which would involve talks between China and ASEAN.