Thai MFA to host meetings of ASEAN top envoys

BANGKOK, July 12 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host meetings of ambassadors and consul generals of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bangkok later this month. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told journalists on Thursday that his ministry will host the ASEAN Ambassadors and Consul Generals Meeting at the ministry's head office in the capital from July 14-15, 2013. Surapong said that the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs will then host another meeting of the ASEAN ambassadors and consul generals, as well as Thai provincial governors in the capital from July 16-17. According to the deputy prime minister, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will inaugurate the July 16-17 meeting and will present the Thai government's policies and exchange ideas with the regional top envoys and the provincial Thai governors. The deputy prime minister acknowledged that the forthcoming meetings are aimed to review and present Thailand's pro-active policies on neighbouring countries in all aspects and to exchange opinions on Thailand's readiness toward the ASEAN Community (AC), set to be formed by 2015. (TNA)