Thai PM leaves for Mekong-Japan Summit

BANGKOK, July 2 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has left Bangkok for Tokyo to attend the 7th Mekong-Japan Summit, scheduled for July 2-4, during which he will declare Thailand's readiness to cooperate with neighbouring countries on strengthening the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Thai Deputy Government Spokesman Major General Weerachon Sukonthapatipak told journalists of the information on Thursday morning, after Prime Minister General Prayut's departure for Tokyo. The deputy spokesman said the prime minister wants to insist on Thailand’s readiness to move forward with neighbouring countries, backed by Japan, for sustainable development in GMS. According to the deputy spokesman, several issues were set to be discussed at the three-day Mekong-Japan Summit, while Thailand will also stress on an intention to move forward toward the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which almost all GMS member countries are also member states, and to also be prepared for both development and challenges, namely impacts from climate change on the farm sector and concrete joint actions for solutions. On the occasion, the Thai premier is also scheduled to hold meetings with various parties which are important for the development of GMS, including Mekong-Japan parliamentarians, the Mekong-Five Economic Forum, organised by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and those with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and leading Japanese business executives. After the conclusion of the 7th Mekong-Japan Summit, Japanese, Myanmar and Thai leaders will witness the signing of a memorandum of intent on the joint development of Myanmar’s Dawei Deep Seaport, representing the three nations' concrete cooperation on the regional flagship project. GMS member countries include Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand and China's southern Yunnan Province. (TNA)