Thailand drives ahead strategies toward AC

BANGKOK, July 16 (TNA) - Thailand is implementing five major strategies, as part of national preparations toward the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by the end of 2015. The five strategies include those on promoting and creating unity among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) while balancing of power with world powers, on preparing national conditions to be ready for intra-regional connectivity, on joining forces with other ASEAN member countries to cope with intra-regional connectivity, on making a balance for national security and on creating appropriate awareness, knowledge and attitudes on ASEAN. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has set up a supervisory center to prepare Thailand's political, economic and social elements as part of national participations for the AC. General Surasak Kanchanarat, Permanent Secretary for Defence, told a press conference at the Ministry of Defence in Bangkok on Wednesday that the supervisory center comprises of sub-committees to oversee the national preparation for the security, economic and social fields, and that he and Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the security sub-committee earlier in the day. Thai Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, meanwhile, heads the economic sub-committee and Navy chief Admiral Narong Pipattanasai chairs the social sub-committee. According to the permanent secretary for defence, the supervisory center is aimed at ensuring that national preparations in the three main areas of security, economic and social aspects will progress in the same direction. The permanent secretary for defence revealed that the Ministry of Defence will hold a seminar on July 25 for military authorities of ASEAN member states to discuss preparations of their countries for the AC. The permanent secretary for foreign affairs told the press conference, meanwhile, that Wednesday's meeting was focused on security issues, especially those foreseen to happen after the formation of the AC, including transnational crime, cross-border migration and disease transmission. (TNA)