Thai PM to attend ASEAN-US summit in US

BANGKOK, February 11 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha will attend a two-day ASEAN-US Leaders Summit in California next week. Chakkrit Sriwalee, Director-General of the Department of ASEAN Affairs, under the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told journalists on February 10 that the summit, set to be held during February 15-16 in Sunnylands of California's Rancho Mirage City, marks the first meeting between the 10 government leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and US President Barack Obama since the ASEAN Community (AC) was established on January 1, 2016 and the elevation of the ASEAN-US Dialogue Relations to “Strategic Partnership”. Chakkrit said next week's summit will be organised into three sessions, including economic issues under the theme "Promoting Regional Prosperity through Innovation and Entrepreneurship", a working dinner under the theme "Regional Strategic Outlook" and security issues under the theme "Protecting Peace, Prosperity and Security in Asia-Pacific". According to the senior official, main issues on the agenda that Thailand and ASEAN members will highlight at next week's summit include enhancing ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership in all dimensions, emphasising Washington's constructive roles in the region, supporting the US re-balancing policy, which stresses on the importance of ASEAN centrality in the region, continually promoting of partnership both in terms of economic cooperation and sustainable development, as well as strengthening cooperation on non-traditional security issues and transnational challenges. The senior official acknowledged Thailand and the rest of ASEAN member countries expect that the summit will provide a great opportunity for raising awareness on AC in the United States and boost international confidence in Thailand, particularly, among US businesses and investors. (TNA)