PM is pleased with Thailand's rank as world’s 21st best country: Government spokesman

BANGKOK, Jan 24 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha is pleased with report that new US magazine survey shows that Thailand is the world’s 21st best country, said a government spokesman. The spokesman said Gen Prayut was informed of the positive news report and wished to thank every Thai citizen who have joined in preserving peace and security in the country. The high ranking given to Thailand does not mean that all people would stop developing the country, but it would help boost the morale of the people to move forward and does not push the people to stay in the conflict circle which would stop Thailand from progressing, the spokesman said. He said the objective of the government is to maintain peace in the country, diminish social divisiveness and imparity, suppressing malpractices and reform the country so that it could lead to sustainable development. The ranking by the US News & World Report, published Thursday, could be interpreted as a mirror for the Thai government and inform it the weak and strong points so that it could use them as information in further developing the country, the spokesman added. The US News & World Report's study called "Best Countries" was compiled in collaboration with BAV Consulting and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. It sampled the perceptions of more than 16,000 people in four global regions, asking them to rank 60 pre-selected countries on a range of criteria. It then compiled a list of rankings in each category, and one overall ranking. Six ASEAN members featured in the study, with only Singapore finishing ahead of Thailand, in 15th place overall. Malaysia was ranked 28th, followed by Vietnam (32), the Philippines (33) and Indonesia (42). (TNA)