Thai PM attends ACMECS meeting in Laos

BANGKOK, March 12 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra attends the 5th Meeting of the Ayeyawady–Chao Phraya–Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), set to be held in Vientiane, Laos' capital, from March 12-13, aimed at the fair development and cooperation of the countries. The meeting, kicked off on Tuesday with a ministerial session prior to a leadership summit on Wednesday, involves countries in the Mekong river basin, which are also member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including Myanmar, Laos Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. Thailand, the initiator of the ACMECS, will confirm its roles in supporting the development in other member countries, focused on the development of local infrastructure, the connectivity of major cities to boost trade and tourism and academic assistance, especially in health services. Thailand will also emphasize on the necessity for member countries to rely more on one another and to integrate their production and economies. Besides, Thailand will call for the promotion of regional investment and cross-border facilitation, the improvement of border crossings, as well as the development of sister cities, skilled labour, innovation in member countries and even the ACMECS Single Visa project. The two-day regional forum is also expected to adopt the Vientiane Declaration and the ACMECS action plan for 2013-2015 Thailand has drafted, aimed at promoting sustainable economic development in the region. (TNA)