ACMECS Summit in Bangkok inaugurated

BANGKOK, June 15 (TNA) - The 8th Ayeyawady–Chao Phraya– Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit, hosted by Thailand during June 15-16, has been opened, firstly with the ACMECS CEO Forum. Delivering a speech at the inaugural ACMECS CEO Forum, themed “Connecting our Future: Enhancing ACMECS Cooperation and Integration”, held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok on Friday morning, Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha said that a joint drive of regional economic development is a main cooperative goal of member countries under the ACMECS framework, aimed to reduce disparity in the region. The Thai prime minister acknowledged that cooperation among member countries, including Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, under the ACMECS framework is also emphasized on developing the economy along their common frontiers and expediting their joint moves to keep pace with the changing geo-political situation through, for instance, the adoption of modern science and technologies for a further upgrade of the regional farm sector to add more values to their agricultural products. The Thai premier, meanwhile, called on cooperation between the regional public and private sectors to boost investment within the ACMECS bloc and to connect regional supply chains with the world economy. The Thai leader also urged the regional private sector to help stimulate and further develop the regional tourism sector and to create more jobs in regional businesses, while also taking part in the ACMECS bloc's timely preparations for coping with the globally- changing technologies and innovations for the sake of mutual benefits of all member countries. On June 16, leaders of member countries are scheduled to attend the 8th ACMECS Summit at the same venue, after which the ACMECS Master Plan, the first five-year master plan of its kind, will be endorsed before the ongoing two-day regional gathering is concluded. (TNA)