ASEAN must adhere to peaceful resolutions: Thai PM

MANILA, April 30 (TNA) - The Southeast Asian nations must adhere to peaceful resolutions and international laws to balance the intrinsic power relations with the super powers in the region, Thai prime minister proposed during the 30th informal ASEAN Leader Summit yesterday. Speaking at the ASEAN Leader Summit in Manila, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said the potential of the Asia Pacific Region has created both cooperation and competitions among the super power nations in the region, especially the United States, China, Japan, and India. The changing global political landscape requires ASEAN countries to closely follow the interplay between these powers while balancing the relationships with these countries in order to maintain their roles and importance in the ASEAN region, he said. Because of these reasons, the prime minister added, ASEAN must place an emphasis on building the unity and maintaining its proactive role in the region by enhancing the cooperation with one another, lower the tension and distrust within the region, strengthen the trust, and build on their mutual interests of, as well as adhering to international laws and peaceful means. Following the meeting, the prime minister joined other ASEAN leaders in signing the regional declaration on the role of civil servants as the accelerator of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) holds two informal leader summits every year and one formal summit with its partners, including the US, China, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, Russia, and the European Union. The 30th informal leader summit in Manila, Philippines, started on April 28 and will end on April 30, 2017. (TNA)