Thailand boosts ACMECS cooperation

BANGKOK, March 13 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has confirmed that Thailand is offering support to enhance cooperation under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS). Yingluck made the confirmation at the inaugural ceremony of the 5th Meeting of the ACMECS in Vientiane, Laos' capital on Wednesday morning, saying that the ACMECS grouping is drawing more attention from other regions, as it is situated in a strategic location linking China, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Yingluck expressed her hope that, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the ACMECS, member countries, which include Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, all are also ASEAN member states, will continue to cooperate for the well-being of their people and their preparations for the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by 2015. The prime minister noted that the Thai government is spending 15 billion baht or 500 US dollars on connecting national infrastructures with those of neighboring countries, and that ACMECS cooperation is in line with policies and strategies of her administration on steadily supporting infrastructure development. According to the prime minister, Thailand is also sponsoring education and training for other member countries to reduce their poverty and to make them ready for the AC, covering an offer of 200 scholarships for training in various fields, namely health and agriculture over the next two years. The Thai premier proposed that member countries confirm their cooperation under the ACMECS bloc for the development, prosperity and security of their border areas, pointing out that the security and prosperity of people in border areas mean the prosperity of all ACMECS member countries. (TNA)