Thai PM attends 22nd ASEAN Summit in Brunei

BANGKOK, April 24 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to leave for Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei's capital, on Wednesday afternoon to attend the 22nd ASEAN Summit, during which she will push for proposals Thailand has already presented. Set from April 24-25, this year's leadership summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is themed “Our People, Our Future Together”, which emphasizes on the roles of people in developing the 10-member bloc and shaping its future. Yingluck told reporters, prior to her departure, that Thailand's proposals she will push forward during this year's two-day ASEAN Summit include three areas of economy, politics and security, as well as society and culture. According to the Thai prime minister, economic proposals include measures and amended regulations to facilitate regional trade and investment, while those concerning politics and security cover joint efforts to suppress drugs, human trafficking and corruption and to promote human rights and good governance in the region. The prime minister acknowledged that Thailand's social and cultural proposals deal with the promotion of public participation and preparation to cope with regional disasters, and that Thailand will also propose regional connectivity of the three pillars through cultural and tourism-related activities and will urge for facilitation and assistance in medicine, public health and education. The prime minister said that she will take the opportunity to invite other ASEAN leaders to the Asia-Pacific Water Summit, to be hosted by Thailand next month, as well. The 22nd ASEAN Summit was set to begin with a working dinner on Wednesday evening and after the two-day summit, there will be the 9th Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and the 7th Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT). During the 7th IMT-GT Summit, Premier Yingluck noted that Thailand will push for connectivity between the three ASEAN neighbouring countries with new motorways and ports and the joint development of standards for products and services, covering, among others, halal food products, para rubber, farm products and tourist services, and that Thailand will also propose cooperation on the facilitation for cross-border transport, trade and security between the three ASEAN neighbours. (TNA)